The Federal Government of Nigeria has emphasized the need for a stronger focus on job creation, skills development, and access to funding and markets as part of efforts to improve opportunities for youths. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made this call in Abuja while declaring open the ministry’s management retreat.
The retreat, themed “Consolidating Youth Development Priorities: Delivering Results, Strengthening Partnerships, and Expanding Impact,” aims to move beyond organizing programs to delivering measurable outcomes that make a tangible difference in the lives of young Nigerians. Olawande stated that the ministry’s success should be measured by the number of jobs created, businesses established, skills acquired, and young people gaining access to funding and markets.
The minister highlighted the recently launched National Youth Data Bank, which provides reliable and comprehensive data on young Nigerians to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, policy formulation, and the design and implementation of youth development programs. This data bank is expected to play a crucial role in tracking progress and evaluating the effectiveness of youth development initiatives.
Olawande called for stronger and more result-oriented partnerships, urging the ministry to assess its collaborations based on their contribution to job creation, skills development, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities for youths. He emphasized the importance of coordination among the ministry’s departments and agencies, stressing that planning must connect with budgeting, budgeting with action, and action must produce measurable results.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Olanipekun Adebayo, noted that the retreat provided an opportunity to review the ministry’s performance, identify gaps, and develop practical measures to improve results. Various stakeholders, including the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, and representatives from the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre and the International Organisation for Migration, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the ministry’s efforts.
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of strategic planning, effective monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making in advancing youth development initiatives. They also highlighted the need for meaningful youth participation in governance and decision-making, commending the ministry’s efforts to advance youth development. The Bank of Industry, represented by Ogo Akabogu, expressed its commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship, improving access to finance, and promoting the growth of youth-led businesses.
The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Aliyu Idris Zakari, stressed the importance of youth participation in governance and decision-making, commending the ministry’s efforts to advance youth development. The ministry’s retreat aims to produce clear decisions on priorities, responsibilities, timelines, partnerships, and measurable indicators of success, ultimately leading to improved opportunities for young Nigerians.
Key points
- The Federal Government of Nigeria is focusing on job creation, skills development, and access to funding and markets for youths.
- The National Youth Data Bank has been launched to provide reliable and comprehensive data on young Nigerians.
- The ministry is seeking stronger and more result-oriented partnerships to support youth development initiatives.
