In a bold step to equip young Nigerians with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive, President Bola Tinubu, in 2023, established the Ministry of Youth Development.
By Franca Ofili,
In a bold step to equip young Nigerians with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive, President Bola Tinubu, in 2023, established the Ministry of Youth Development.
The ministry was officially separated from the Ministry of Sports Development on Aug. 17 of that year.
The move, a key part of the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda, signaled a renewed national focus on youth empowerment.
At the helm is Minister Ayodele Olawande, who has since driven a series of reforms and initiatives aimed at unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s young population.
Over the past two years, the ministry has focused on nurturing the social, emotional, cognitive, and economic capacities of young Nigerians through a variety of programmes and partnerships.
One of its flagship efforts is the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), a N110 billion initiative designed to fuel entrepreneurship and innovation among youth-led businesses.
Building on this, the government also inaugurated the Youth Development Bank, a pioneering financial institution with a N10 billion take-off capital aimed at providing tailored financial solutions to young entrepreneurs.
The ministry’s commitment to capacity building is also evident in the Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Programme, which includes the well-known N-Power scheme.
Under this, 500,000 graduates have been trained and engaged nationwide in various vocational and digital skills.
Additionally, the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) was introduced to provide 5,000 young Nigerians with internship placements in public and private sector organisations, while efforts to rehabilitate Youth Development Centres continue across the country.
Olawande revealed plans to transform these centres into innovation hubs that will focus on technical, digital, creative, and civic engagement.
In pursuit of deeper impact, the Ministry of Youth Development has formed strategic alliances with both local and international stakeholders.
One notable partnership is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Investonaire Academy, aimed at training 100,000 young Nigerians annually in foreign exchange (Forex) trading.
“A capacity-building workshop on digital transformation and artificial intelligence, organised in collaboration with UNESCO.
“MoU with RHO Sigma & Sons Limited to produce a youth-focused reality show, Teenage Talent Hunt, aimed at promoting talent in music, dance, visual arts, and innovation.”
According to Olawande, the show will serve as a platform for entertainment, education, and skills enhancement, showcasing Nigeria’s emerging talents while reinforcing the ministry’s goal of empowering the next generation.
In a collaborative venture with the Bank of Industry and development partners, the ministry launched NextGen Bank, a youth-focused development finance institution.
It offers grants, low-interest loans, and equity investments to scale youth-led ventures in critical sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, ICT, healthcare, and education.
The ministry also introduced Youth Villages, sustainable physical and virtual communities in partnership with states such as Niger, Katsina, and Ebonyi.
These communities are designed to support economic development based on regional strengths and will serve as multifunctional hubs for entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and innovation.
Recognising financial challenges as a barrier to education, the ministry played a key role in rolling out an interest-free student loan scheme.
The initiative is designed to prevent dropouts from tertiary institutions due to economic hardship.
Before the end of the year, the ministry is set to host a National Youth Confab, where equality and inclusivity will be at the heart of discussions.
Olawande stressed the need for diverse representation and equity in policymaking, saying: “The selection of representatives will be based on equality.
“This government is committed to creating a Nigeria where equal opportunities are available to all, regardless of gender, social status, or creed.”
To promote healthy living among youth, the ministry inaugurated YO! Health, a comprehensive health awareness campaign.
The initiative addresses mental, physical, and sexual well-being, targeting common challenges such as substance abuse, mental health neglect, and preventable diseases.
Built on six strategic pillars, mental health, drug and substance abuse, communicable diseases, health insurance for informal workers, non-communicable diseases, and sexual and reproductive health,YO! Health aims to provide access to credible health information.
The initiative also focuses on delivering essential services and fostering community-driven support to improve overall youth well-being.
“Good health is foundational for youth to reach their full potential.
“This initiative promotes preventive healthcare and empowers youth to take charge of their well-being,” the minister said.
As part of its long-term plan, the ministry recently launched the National Youth Development Strategy (2024–2028), alongside initiatives in digital skills training, green entrepreneurship, and multi-sector partnerships.
“Nigerian youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the changemakers of today.
“We remain committed to building a system where young people have the tools, platforms, and support to shape their future and the nation’s destiny,” Olawande noted.(NANFeatures)