The Ministry of Youth Development has said its 2024 ministerial retreat will focus on reduction in youth unemployment rates by promoting entrepreneurial mindset.
Dr Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development, stated this in Abuja on Thursday during the two-day ministerial retreat on presidential deliverables.
Ibrahim said that the retreat marked a critical step in achieving the ministry’s goals by focusing on three key outcomes.
“The first is reduction in youth unemployment rates by promoting entrepreneurial mindset, thereby, harnessing the vast innovative energy that’s the hallmark of the typical Nigerian youth.
“Second is increase in youths with relevant and global in-demand skills, especially in emerging areas of environmentally sustainable sectors.
“This holds the key to the economy of the future and in other priority sectors that will put our vast youths in the driving for the attainment of a national goal of a trillion-dollar economy.
“The last key outcome is increase in youth participation in social, political and economic development, including strategic participation in governance and leadership,” she said.
The minister said the outcomes are the pillars upon which the ministry will build a stronger, more vibrant and resilient Nigeria.
She said that the Renewed Hope Agenda deliverables with the selected Key Performance Indicators, KPIs, are its guiding lights.
“They provide us with measurable goals that ensure we stay on course and make tangible progress.
“Let us frequently remind ourselves of these KPIs, as they will be our benchmarks for success and accountability,” Ibrahim stressed.
She noted that the youth constitute a significant proportion of the country’s population, and represent immense potential and opportunity.
“Yet, they face challenges that require our immediate and sustained attention such as unemployment, skill gaps and limited participation in socio-economic activities.
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“These challenges are not insurmountable with a strategic, well-coordinated approach, we can turn them into opportunities for growth and empowerment,” Ibrahim said.
The Minister of State, Mr Ayodele Olawande, noted that three things must be put in place, which are action, thinking outside the box and being committed to issues that concerned the youths.
Olawande said they must think differently to make the ministry powerful as people believed.
“The youths want to see and touch the government because it is the youth that will change themselves,” he said.
Mr Dunoma Ahmed, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the government had made significant commitments to improving the lives of the youth.
He noted that the government was set to achieve this through various policies, programmes and initiatives.
“Our government has recognised the importance of the youth as a critical factor in our nation’s development.
“And has, therefore, prioritised their welfare, development and empowerment, particularly in areas such as education, health, employment, entrepreneurship, access to capital and innovation,” Ahmed said.
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