Youth Minister, Olawande, Tasks African Colleagues On Youths Development

Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has called on ministers of youth across the African continent to prioritize youth development in their countries.

Olawande stated that President Bola Tinubu, through many youths-focused programmes was committed to giving Nigerian youths the needed skills to contribute to the global economy while being productive.

Nigeria’s Youth Minister stated this at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Rwanda, during the weekend. He noted there was the need for all African countries to embrace a holistic and realistic youth development agenda.

Represented at the YouthConnekt Africa Summit by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi; he used the platform to present the various youth-focused initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration aimed at empowering and developing the Nigerian youth.

Speaking at the Ministerial roundtable on rural youth entrepreneurs’ access to finance, Olawande emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to fostering youth employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

He also reiterated the readiness and commitment of “Nigeria to the overall growth of youths in the country and Africa at large.”

He charged African youth leaders at the summit to “embrace the “One Youth, two skills” mantra of Nigeria’s Youth Minister in order to ensure the African continent build a skilled generation of youth with capacity to drive growth and development“.

He explained that equipping youth with more skills will not only bring more productivity but also give room for youths to compete more on the global stage.

Olawande added that Nigeria, having joined YouthConnekt as the 32nd member state in 2022, remains committed to establishing a YouthConnekt Hub to promote sustainable youth development and strengthen continental collaboration.