Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, is rolling out a series of programmes aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical skills, business support, and mentorship opportunities to promote self-reliance and job creation.
The initiatives are designed to provide youths with marketable skills and improved access to opportunities in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Among the programmes is the Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, which is supporting thousands of young entrepreneurs to establish and expand their businesses.
The minister has also launched the National Youth Mentorship Initiative, aimed at connecting young Nigerians with industry leaders for guidance, professional development, and networking opportunities.
To strengthen technical capacity nationwide, Vocational Training Centres have been established across the country to provide hands-on training in skills aligned with current labour market demands.
Another key intervention is the NiYA Startup Initiative, which is focused on funding and mentoring youth-led startups across various sectors of the economy.
The Pan-African Youth Union said the initiatives align with broader efforts to empower young people to become drivers of economic growth and sustainable development.
The union also called on Nigerians to support the minister’s vision, noting that stronger collaboration would help create more opportunities for youths and reinforce national development efforts.
