The federal government said it is in the process of rehabilitating and revamping 42 youth centres to boost youth empowerment.
Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, said this when representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited the ministry at the weekend.
She urged the UNDP representatives to support the ministry in implementing the strategic plans of the government to provide young Nigerians with the necessary skills, mentorship, a conducive environment and access to resources that will empower them to become active contributors to the country’s economy.
While shedding light on the strategic areas of the ministry’s agenda, Bio-Ibrahim said: “Our strategic ambition is to transform and reposition the Nigerian youth as catalysts for economic development.
Young people must be an integral part of this process. We have other sub-ambitions, the first being a reduction in the youth unemployment rate, followed by an increase in youth possessing skills that are in line with global demand, and an increase in youth participation in social and economic development.
“Our core tactical initiatives are focused on four pillars: Governance, Jobs and Skills Innovation, Culture and Behavioral Change, and Human Capital Development. These pillars aim to guide policy advocacy and development, improve coordination across stakeholders, and provide multi-agency youth programs and resources.”
The minister said the government was determined to establish communication governance frameworks, implement youth-embedded public and private sector mentorship programs, create multi-sector job off-taker platforms for youth employment, enhance NYSC reforms and establish youth villages and innovation centres.
She also disclosed plans to revitalise the national youth investment fund, launch the Young Leaders Institute, and implement social, behavioural, and cultural change programs aimed at tackling youth-related issues such as climate change, gender, mental health, drug, and substance abuse.
According to the minister, the initiative included the provision of access to business literacy, financial management, and entrepreneurship training to meet the global market demand.
“As part of efforts to actualise these initiatives, she disclosed plans to create more professional departments in the ministry
“We are currently seeking approval to create additional professional departments. However, the one that is particularly important to us is the Youth Well-being Department. It is crucial to create such a department because when young people have good mental health, they are more likely to be productive. Therefore, our goal is to prioritise the well-being of our youth.
“We are seeking approval to restart the Nigeria Investment Fund. If approved, it will enable us to employ the cluster approach with a view to enhancing youth development and empowerment. This, in turn, will lead to tangible sustainable impact on a great scale, and benefit our economy.”
Bio-Ibrahim noted that one of the ministry’s main goals was to increase the representation of young people in politics and governance at all levels by seeking the Council’s approval for a 30 percent youth quota.
The Representative of UNDP, Elsie Attafuah assured the minister that the UN agency would provide support for the initiatives of the government.
She lamented that the African continent was facing a daunting challenge as young people continued to struggle to find jobs, leading to frustration and the growing trend of going abroad to seek jobs.
She pointed out that it was high time to delve deeper into the root causes of the problem and take a more realistic approach towards youth empowerment and job creation.
She said: “We must create more opportunities and find jobs for our people, as merely providing them with starter packs or training won’t solve it. We need to identify the obstacles that hold us back and tackle them head-on. Let’s work together to eradicate this problem and create a brighter future for our youth and our continent.
“In the four pillars, we will encourage everyone to think outside the box and explore innovative practices that align with the ever-changing world.”
She expressed the readiness of the UNDP to collaborate with the ministry in the priority areas outlined by the minister.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that the design, implementation, and operationalization of the initiatives outlined by the minister are done properly.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Donuma Ahmed expressed hope that the meeting would bring positive change in the lives of young Nigerians.
