Wale Edun says Nigeria, World Bank working to create jobs to discourage migration

Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, says Nigeria is working with the World Bank to develop a job-creation agenda.

Edun spoke during an interview with journalists after the World Bank development committee plenary held on Friday in Washington D.C, the United States.

He said the meeting centred on creating jobs to provide a secure, promising future for Nigeria’s youth.

The minister noted that the goal was to set a direction for the World Bank and its governors to adopt a progressive development agenda.

“The objective is to create jobs locally, empower youth, and support this through essential infrastructure,” Edun said.

“For young people, that includes digital infrastructure — access to data, internet, and fibre optic networks — to enable them to work remotely.”

He said multilateral development institutions play a vital role in advancing global development, particularly through collaboration with national leaders.

The minister emphasised the importance of the World Bank’s focus on job creation as a way of securing the future for young people globally.

Edun added that Africa, which is expected to account for 25 percent of the global youth population by 2050, was a major part of the discussions.

He noted that sustaining job creation in Nigeria requires a stable macroeconomic climate and strong financial systems.

The minister also stressed the importance of attracting private sector investment to create high-quality, locally-based jobs rather than depending on outsourced employment.

Edun said the committee’s focus aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform agenda, which seeks to stabilise the economy and attract both local and foreign investors.

He added that the agenda includes enhancing productivity, expanding economic growth, and, most importantly, generating employment for young Nigerians.

The minister said part of the job creation drive is to discourage the trend of young people migrating abroad in search of better job opportunities.