TheCable

The federal government has reiterated its commitment to address youth-related issues with the aim of placing the youth on the path of career development, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and direct employment through various initiatives.

Sunday Dare, the minister of youth development, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja when he declared open the 2022 Africa/National Youth Day celebrations with the theme “Breaking Barriers to Meaningful Participation and Inclusion in Advocacy”.

The minister said the government will ensure inclusiveness at all levels in line with the National Youth Policy.

“The ministry has designed and implemented the mentoring and life enhancement programmes for vulnerable youth and youth with disabilities in different geo-political zones of the country. This is aimed at empowering them to cater for themselves and families,” he said.

“Our DEEL Initiative which focuses on digital literacy and skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, employability and leadership have continued to provide opportunities for our youth in training, digital skills, entrepreneurship, soft skills, internships and access to credit and finance among others. The DEEL programme has helped to fill the knowledge and skills gap in the Nigerian youth in the past three years.”

The minister said the Nigeria Online Youth Assembly (NOYA) was another initiative of the present administration that targeted improving livelihoods and promoting the well-being and total inclusion of Nigerian youth with opportunities in both government and private sectors.

“Since 2015, the programme has engaged hundreds of thousands of youth, thereby reinventing their future using knowledge and creativity to escape poverty, unemployment, immoral acts and other unhealthy plagues existing in our society,” he also said.

Dare, who recalled the early days of Nigeria’s nationhood when the youth stood out with great potential, said: “A case in point is the aspiration and subsequent election of Ambassador John Niyi, representing Nigerian youth for the position of Vice President, West Africa, under the Pan African Youth Union, in addition to athlete Tobi Amusan who recently set a new world record in the women’s 100 meters hurdles.”