By Stella Odueme
As part of the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering Nigerian Youths, thereby reducing unemployment, the Federal Government is set to distribute 2,000 CNG Tricycles to them before the end of this year.
The Minister of State for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande made this disclosure during a Press Conference he organised in his office in Abuja to mark the 64th independence anniversary of Nigeria.
In the words of the Minister: “I have just concluded a meeting for a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the Presidential initiative on CNG and the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria for a tricycle empowerment programme for the youth”.
“By Tuesday, October 1st, we will be launching the first phase of a project to distribute 2,000 CNG Tricycles before the end of this year to the informal Youth who work in the transportation sector. While this initiative would ensure that Tricycle riders, who are mostly Youth would spend only 20 per cent of what they presently spend on PMS; it would also improve their profit and generally reduce the cost of transportation for their passengers”, the Minister stressed.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a leader who does not neglect his duty to Nigerian youth, adding that as a result of this, he has shown a commitment to listening and to fulfilling every single promise he has made to us as youth.
“While he was campaigning to be President, he promised to give the youth a front seat in his government. In keeping with his promise, the President has approved some percentage for Youth representation in his government which he has implemented.”
“The President did not just appoint young people, he appointed mostly children of average Nigerians as Directors-General, Chairmen of Agencies and others reflecting his desire to build a nation of equal opportunities for all where no one is denied a chance because of the situation of his birth”, Olawande reiterated.
The Minister stated further that aside from inclusion, the president has also delivered key youth interventions since assumption of office by giving loans to every willing Nigerian youth to have opportunity to access quality education, without financial worries, approving Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) as a platform to teach the relevant skills that would propel the active participation of youth in the business sector and job markets.
“As a youth, the government believes that we have the digital power, the technology and the force of innovation to drive the growth of Nigeria, hence, we launched the digital literacy for all (DL4ALL) to train over 30 million youth in digital literacy and skills in partnership with NYSC and NITDA, the government also recently approved Youth House in Abuja to serve as a platform for youth to express their abilities, find their self-identity and passion”, the Minister concluded.
