By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called on all Nigerians to prioritize the progress of the nation by setting aside their differences and working together as a united team.
The Minister made this appeal during his maiden interactive session with the Ministry’s Media correspondents in Abuja.
In his address, Comrade Olawande highlighted the historic nature of his appointment, noting that this is the first time a youth has been appointed Minister of Youth Development since the inception of democracy in 1999.
A statement on Tuesday said he urged young Nigerians to support the current administration to help the youth take their rightful place in governance and national development.
“Things must change, and we cannot continue with outdated approaches. This is the time for action and results, to ensure we can bring smiles to the faces of Nigerian youths,” the Minister stated.
Touching on the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Minister acknowledged challenges with its implementation, citing skepticism from most youth, especially in the southern region, saying it led to fewer applicants from the South compared to the North.
To address some of the issues, the Minister said plans are being mapped out to redesign the fund to ensure equal opportunities for youth across all regions.
Comrade Olawande also revealed plans to transform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation programme into a skills hub.
He emphasized that this initiative would equip Youth Corps members with multiple skills, enabling them to become self-reliant and reduce dependence on government jobs after their service year.
“None of these programmes can succeed without the cooperation of the media. We count on the media to provide positive and balanced coverage of the Ministry’s activities to help us achieve our mandate,” Olawande stressed.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and inclusivity. He assured correspondents that the Ministry would operate an open-door policy to foster better collaboration and achieve its goals.
“This marks the first interactive session with the Minister since his appointment. Regular engagements like this will be prioritized to strengthen the relationship with the media,” Olusanya said.
