By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Bio Ibrahim has said that the federal government is committed to equipping Nigerian youths with the relevant skills to succeed and contribute meaningfully to national development.
The minister made this assertion while receiving stakeholders from various organisations during a youth skills stakeholder consultative dialogue held in her office in Abuja.
According to the minister, “as many of you are aware, Nigeria is home to a demography that represents more than 60 percent of our population. This is not just a statistic, but a powerful potential that if properly harnessed, can transform our economy and elevate our standing on the global stage. Despite the significant challenges we face, we must focus on this potential to realize a brighter future for our nation”.
“Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate currently stands at approximately 42.5 percent, a staggering figure that underscores the urgent need for adequate skills development and employment programmes. This is not a problem we can afford to ignore. The urgency should spur us into immediate and comprehensive action to address this pressing issue”, Jamila added.
A statement on Wednesday night by Director of Information & Public Relations, Omolara Esan said that the Minister reiterated that her ministry is taking the lead in tackling youth unemployment and bridging the skills gap through groundbreaking flagship initiatives.
She explained that with the restructured Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Presidential Initiative on Youth Cluster (PIYEC), and the National Youth Skills Program, the government is directly addressing the challenges young Nigerians are facing, equipping them with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to excel in a rapidly evolving global economy and drive sustainable national progress.
She disclosed that these programmes provide accessible finance, training, mentorship, and enterprise development opportunities across vital economic sectors, paving the way for financial empowerment. Specifically, the National Youth Skills Program equips Nigerian youth with cutting edge, globally competitive skills, ensuring they are prepared to thrive in today’s interconnected marketplace.
“We aim to foster stronger interagency collaboration and reinforce partnership among government bodies, donors, and the private sector by aligning our roles and responsibilities, leverage our strengths, and pool resources to create a unified and impactful approach to youth skills development”, the Minister concluded.
