By Stella Odueme
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth through strategic collaboration with key sectors of the economy, particularly the tourism industry.
He made this known while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
During the meeting, according to the Director, Information & Public Relations, Omolara Esan, in a statement on Sunday, Comrade Olawande emphasized the importance of engaging young Nigerians in critical sectors such as entertainment, the creative industries, sports, education, agriculture, and tourism
According to him, these sectors present vast opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods for Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population.
Highlighting tourism as a sector with enormous potential, the Minister noted that Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, creative expressions, and diverse attractions provide immense opportunities for youth participation and economic diversification.
He stressed that many young Nigerians are yet to fully recognize the economic value embedded in their cultures and communities, which can be harnessed through structured tourism development.
Comrade Olawande reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to partnering with relevant stakeholders to promote talent development, strengthen youth entrepreneurship, and create investment and economic exchange opportunities for young Nigerians.
He also emphasized the importance of strong inter-ministerial collaboration and institutional partnerships in maximizing impact. The Ministry, he said, will continue to work closely with relevant government agencies and organizations to align youth empowerment initiatives with national development priorities.
These collaborations, he explained will include institutions such as the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to expand opportunities for youth participation across multiple sectors.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, noted that many young Nigerians remain unaware of the vast opportunities embedded in the country’s rich cultural heritage and tourism assets. She stated that unlocking these opportunities would not only create pathways for youth entrepreneurship but also position Nigeria as a major global tourism destination.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Ola Awakan, emphasized that youth participation will be central to the transformation of the tourism sector.
He described Nigeria as a “microcosm of stories,” rich in culture, arts, traditions, and heritage that remain largely underutilized.
According to him, harnessing these stories and cultural assets will not only attract local and international tourists but will also create sustainable opportunities across the tourism value chain, including hospitality, culinary tourism, cultural heritage, entertainment, and the creative industries.
Dr. Awakan also
underscored the critical role of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority in driving the sector’s growth through its core mandates of marketing Nigeria as a tourist destination, promoting and developing tourist sites, and regulating tourism activities at the federal level.
