Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri's administration has prioritized youth empowerment and human capital development in Adamawa State. The administration has introduced a comprehensive framework for youth development, focusing on education, employment, entrepreneurship, health, and civic participation. The Adamawa State Youth Policy 2025 defines youth within the 15–40 age bracket and targets rural youth, persons with disabilities, out-of-school youth, and communities affected by insurgency.
The administration has established the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA) to provide financial support to youth, women, petty traders, artisans, and small businesses. The Fintiri Business Wallet programme has disbursed billions of naira to over 100,000–240,000 beneficiaries, promoting entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance. PAWECA also offers grants, training, and social support to youth and women, strengthening small businesses and promoting economic growth.
The administration has revitalized and expanded skills acquisition and technical training centers across Adamawa, offering practical training in various trades. The centers provide training in areas such as electrical installation, welding, and fabrication, automobile repairs, GSM repairs, tailoring, and fashion design. The programmes range from short-term courses to advanced one-year programmes, with participants in some programmes receiving monthly stipends. The capacity to train thousands annually has been enhanced, with targets of 20,000+ youths.
Digital skills development has become a major pillar of youth empowerment in Adamawa State. The administration has partnered with specialized programmes to expose young people to coding, data analysis, digital marketing, e-commerce, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. The Adamawa Digital Academy provides young people with access to structured digital learning, technology-driven skills, and opportunities relevant to the emerging digital economy.
The administration is positioning agriculture as a source of employment and entrepreneurship for young people. The 300-Hectare-per-LGA Food Security and Cluster Farming Programme provides prepared farmland, agricultural inputs, and extension services to participating youth across the state. The initiative seeks to create jobs, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen food security. Other interventions support livestock entrepreneurship, agricultural value chains, and climate-resilient farming.
The administration has expanded educational opportunities through the Adamawa State Scholarship Trust Fund, supporting thousands of students within and outside the state. Other interventions include free WAEC and NECO registration for eligible students, local and specialized scholarship programmes, overseas postgraduate opportunities, and the construction and development of model schools and educational infrastructure. The Fintiri Wings initiative provides opportunities for postgraduate studies abroad.
The administration has also created employment opportunities through public-sector recruitment, infrastructure projects, and other government interventions. Sports development initiatives, including the Adamawa Governor’s Cup, provide platforms for discovering and developing young sporting talents across the state. The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has benefited thousands of schoolgirls through conditional cash transfers and other interventions designed to improve enrolment, attendance, and retention.
Key points
- The Fintiri administration's comprehensive approach to youth empowerment combines education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities to promote sustainable economic participation and human capital development in Adamawa State.
