Dr. Maryam Keshinro Assumes Office as Permanent Secretary, Pledges Stronger Youth Empowerment Drive

Maryam Aminu

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has formally welcomed Dr. Maryam Keshinro as its new Permanent Secretary, following a handover ceremony held in Abuja on Monday.

Addressing Directors, staff and inter-ministerial partners, Dr. Keshinro expressed appreciation for the warm reception, describing her appointment as a continuation of her long-standing commitment to mentorship, public service and national development.

She commended the achievements of her predecessor and assured that existing gains would be consolidated and expanded.

She underscored the strategic importance of the Ministry, noting that young people constitute nearly 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population, making youth development central to the country’s future. Dr. Keshinro reaffirmed the Ministry’s alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that youth empowerment remains a national priority.

The new Permanent Secretary pledged to lead with integrity, accountability and professionalism, with a focus on strengthening due process, transparency and the rule of law; promoting merit, hard work and continuous improvement; leveraging staff expertise for impactful programmes; and ensuring service delivery that responds to the needs of young Nigerians.

She announced that internal briefings would commence shortly, during which Departments would present updates on ongoing programmes, achievements, challenges, budget performance, nominal roll status, 2026 leave rosters and strategic priorities for the year ahead.

Reaffirming her open-door leadership style, Dr. Keshinro encouraged staff to contribute innovative ideas, report challenges promptly and participate actively in policy development, while upholding teamwork, professionalism and effective communication.

“Together, we will build a legacy of pride, progress and lasting empowerment for the Nigerian youth,” she said.

In his valedictory remarks, the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, highlighted key areas for sustaining the Ministry’s momentum, including seamless programme handover, support for promotions and capacity building, strengthened monitoring and evaluation, and enhanced private-sector collaboration.

He expressed confidence that the Ministry would continue to advance youth development across the country.