Abuja: The Federal Government has announced the allocation of N120 billion to initiate a skills acquisition program aimed at empowering youths across the nation. The initiative was unveiled by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, during the Adolescent and Youth Ministerial Dialogue on Wellbeing, Health, and Development in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, organized by Plan International in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and UNESCO, was designed to foster inclusive policy-making and elevate the role of adolescents and youths in national development. The program, themed ‘From Words to Action,’ targets vulnerable youth, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), across various geopolitical zones.
Prof. Ahmad, represented by Prof. Ali Idris, highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and aims to provide sustainable opportunities for youth employment and empowerment. Companies capable of training at least 60,000 individuals within three months will receive financial support from the ministry, while trained individuals will receive a starter pack upon completion.
The government intends to actively involve youths in decision-making processes, with plans to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to facilitate this engagement. Prof. Ahmad emphasized that the program will be developed in collaboration with the youth to ensure it addresses their critical needs.
Addressing economic challenges, she stressed the importance of acquiring skills to enhance employability locally and internationally, given the limited availability of government jobs and the departure of companies from the country.
The government is also addressing the issue of out-of-school children through the Lumina programme, which aims to provide literacy and numeracy education, especially in hard-to-reach areas targeting girls. The initiative is set to begin in the next two months, with online registration already underway.
Jonathan Abakpa, Advocacy League Programme Officer for Plan International Nigeria, underscored the importance of youth involvement in national discussions about their future. He noted the success of previous conferences, which led to the creation of the Adolescent and Young People’s Roadmap as a guide for policy and intervention.
Despite progress, challenges such as out-of-school children, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages remain. Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, Ibrahim Sunnoma, urged the government to transition from commitments to actionable steps, particularly emphasizing the need to support vulnerable children like the Almajiri in northern Nigeria.
The event included participation from stakeholders in the education, health, and humanitarian sectors.
