By Stella Odueme
The Federal Government is set to collaborate with the Greening Education Partnership (GEP NIGERIA) to transform Youth Centres across Nigeria into world-class hubs of excellence.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this commitment while receiving representatives of GEP NIGERIA, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Vallez, in his office in Abuja.
“We are eager to work with you to empower Nigerian youth and help them thrive in various fields.”
A statement by the Director, Information & PR, Omolara Esan on Wednesday said the Minister emphasized the importance of equipping young Nigerians with the necessary skills, citing an example from the construction of the Dangote refinery:
“When Dangote started building his refinery, no Nigerian had the required skills to work there. Foreigners were employed instead. This led us to adopt the maxim: ‘two skills for one youth’.
In his remarks, Mr. Michael Vallez, Chairman and CEO of GEP NIGERIA, highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting youth development in Nigeria.
“GEP NIGERIA wants to understand your processes, your approach, and your needs. We have a team of world-class welding training experts ready to provide technical support for global training initiatives. We are also aware of major global foundations operating in Nigeria and Africa, which Nigerian youth can leverage for opportunities.
“We are here to listen, learn, and identify institutions involved in youth training and development,” he stated.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the partnership, stating that collaboration with GEP NIGERIA will enhance Youth Centres and empower Nigeria’s youth, who make up the country’s largest demographic.
