The Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, has announced that the portal for the restructured Youth Investment Fund of N110 billion will be accessible in the coming days.
The Minister made this announcement during a courtesy visit by the Middle Belt Youth Council to her office in Abuja.
She emphasized that the fund is designed to provide crucial support for businesses owned by young entrepreneurs who are currently experiencing financial challenges.
Omolara Esan, Director of Press and Public Relations, stated on Thursday in Abuja that the Minister noted the fund aims to offer financial assistance, mentorship, and resources to help these businesses overcome their struggles and thrive.
“We are working very hard to ensure that the portal is opened to allow young people to register and access the fund. When the portal is open, we will continue to inform and guide young people on how to access the N110 billion committed by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This fund will prioritize existing businesses. We understand that they are already established and have their clients. What they need is a little push to avoid sinking due to the current state of the economy,” she explained.
According to her, within one year, the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu has achieved numerous milestones, including the approval of a 30 percent youth quota for government appointments, the implementation of the Presidential Initiatives on Youth Enterprise Clusters, the establishment of a 70,000 minimum wage for civil servants, the introduction of CNG buses for citizen transportation, the direct purchase and distribution of food items to the most vulnerable families across the nation, plans to resume local production in refineries to reduce fuel costs, and the rehabilitation and commissioning of the Abuja Metro Stations.
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“The government is also committed to providing free services by the end of 2024, as directed by Mr. President,” she added.
She further informed that the recently passed North Central Development Commission bill is a testament to the President’s strong support for that region.
Earlier, the President of the Middle Belt Youth Council and leader of the team, Hon. Emmanuel Zopmal, stated that the purpose of the visit was to engage with the Federal Government regarding policies affecting the youth and to discuss how they can contribute to governance.
On behalf of the Middle Belt youths, Zopmal also stated that the youth from his region are not in support of the planned protest against the government.
He stressed the importance of understanding government initiatives designed for the youth through constructive engagement.