By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government is to collaborate with the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP), to address youth unemployment, poverty, and their related impacts on restiveness, radicalization, and insecurity by creating jobs for twelve million youth farmers and food entrepreneurs.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, announced this during a press conference when he hosted NIYEEDEP, led by the Coordinator, Kennedy Iyere at his office in Abuja.
Comrade Olawande disclosed that the initiative is aimed at providing Nigerian Youths, the enabling economic platform and empowerment opportunities needed to become creators of their own jobs and to also transform themselves into change agents and catalysts for nation-building, wealth creation, poverty alleviation, crime reduction, social transformation and economy development.
“The initiative will focus on some strategic economic engagement areas such as, Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme, Food4All Initiative, Arts4Money Project, Tech4Jobs Scheme, Waste2Wealth Project, Youths4Wealth Scheme, Youths4Charity Outreach, Youths4Peace Initiative and Skills2Job Initiative
He explained that the initiative is intended to be achieved through the creation and management of national grassroots business clusters and cooperatives, integrating value-chain investment and engaging youth in agri-food entrepreneurship.
“The collaboration will serve to ignite wealth creation revolution, in such vital economic sectors as technology, entertainment, renewable energy, digital commerce, innovation and creativity among others with a target to produce 6 million and more jobs.”
Comrade Kennedy Iyere, the coordinator of NIYEEDEP, expressed appreciation to the Minister for his tireless efforts in promoting initiatives that foster economic development.
He assured the Minister of his commitment to effectively implement the initiative, emphasizing its potential to stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, and enhance overall community progress.
