Federal Government Unveils National Youth Development Initiatives
On Tuesday, the Federal Government announced its plans to establish both a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank, aimed at empowering young Nigerians with the necessary financial and informational resources. President Bola Tinubu shared this news through his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, during a Stakeholders Roundtable focused on Northern Youth Development, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja.
President Tinubu highlighted the importance of these initiatives as essential tools in the ongoing strategy to transform Nigeria’s economy through comprehensive youth development across various key sectors. He praised the legacy of the late Ahmadu Bello, former Premier of Northern Nigeria, noting his significant contributions to national progress.
“The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was a giant upon whose legacy we rely as a nation,” Tinubu stated. He emphasized that for Nigeria to flourish, all regions, particularly the North, must advance. “What hinders the development of one region impacts the entirety of the nation,” he added.
With growing concerns over the number of out-of-school children, which Tinubu described as a distressing national statistic that requires urgent attention, he reiterated his administration’s commitment to various youth-focused initiatives. Programs highlighted included the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters, and endeavors aimed at nurturing Nigeria’s creative and digital economy through offerings such as the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Furthermore, the president detailed several other initiatives designed to facilitate educational access and entrepreneurship, including the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for higher education, the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) initiative, and the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI), which promotes global market engagement.
Addressing agricultural development, he underscored the necessity of investments to establish Northern Nigeria as a leading agricultural hub. Additionally, he spoke about security challenges in the region, committing to enhance community policing, rehabilitate displaced persons, and tackle cross-border issues such as smuggling and insurgency.
Tinubu warned that by 2050, Nigeria is projected to become the third most populous country in the world, with a significant proportion of its citizens under the age of 21. “Our objective must be to foster a stable, orderly federation,” he remarked, asserting that achieving this goal is both critical and attainable.
He directly appealed to youth, emphasizing their role not just as the future but as the present of the nation. “Your energy, ideas, and determination are already influencing our policies,” he stated. He assured young Nigerians of the administration’s commitment to equipping them with the skills and opportunities essential for thriving in a competitive landscape.
Echoing this sentiment, Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, stressed the pivotal role of youth education in advancing national development. “Our youths are the bedrock of any change we desire in our society,” he asserted, reinforcing the idea that today’s youth are not merely future leaders, but also active leaders now.
The Sultan called for continued dialogue with young people across the northern states, highlighting that education remains the most significant legacy any leader can leave. “Without education, one cannot truly achieve anything in life,” he articulated, advocating for increased investment in educational initiatives over general infrastructure development.
The event also marked the 15th anniversary of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, as noted by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Muazu Babangida.
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