FG, groups to upskill youths for emerging employment

The Federal Government is partnering with key agencies such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to provide Nigerian youths with the necessary skills for the modern job market. This initiative is crucial, as the nation's youthful population plays a pivotal role in driving economic transformation.

The Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP), led by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, aims to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment and underemployment. The Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, emphasized that the plan, in collaboration with other development partners, is a response to the growing concerns of young people seeking quality education, decent employment, entrepreneurship support, and productive livelihoods.

The review meeting, held in Port Harcourt, represents an opportunity for stakeholders to collaborate and develop a framework ensuring that the youth receive the required skills to become employable in the 21st-century labor market. Olawande stressed that young Nigerians should have access to quality education, decent work opportunities, entrepreneurship support, and pathways for meaningful participation in the economy.

The ministry, along with its partners, is committed to strengthening policies and programs that create employment opportunities for young Nigerians, making it an exercise beyond mere administration but a vital step towards addressing youth unemployment and underemployment.