The Federal Government has unveiled a-24 month action plan of creating 20 million jobs for youths, through the recently launched “Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP).
NIYEEDEP is a pro-youth socioeconomic intervention scheme jointly anchored and driven by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Nigerian Senate, through its Committee on Sports Development.
A total of 20 million jobs are to be created through the entrepreneurship revolution, in such key sectors, as agriculture, agro-allied, food and beverage, technology, entertainment and renewable energy among others. The “Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme”, is one of the entrepreneurship interventions of NIYEEDEP designed to create 12 million youth farmers in 24 months.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, during the public unveiling of the “NIYEEDEP Plan of Action for 2025/2027”, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stressed the need for Nigerian youths to align with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, in the collective efforts towards building a healthy and safe Nigeria.
The minister said he is not ignorant of the fact that the youths of Nigeria are undergoing hard times but advised that the only way out of the present economic predicaments is for the youths to proffer the needed economic solutions and position themselves as agents of positive change.
Olawande further affirmed that the critical desire to provide the economic platforms and opportunities needed by youths to contribute their efforts towards nation-building and economic development was the key factor that compelled the creation of the “Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP).
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He advised the youths to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the Federal Government through NIYEEDEP, to help themselves to achieve economic self-emancipation while also transforming themselves into agents of nation-building and catalysts for political stability, social transformation and economic development.
According to Olawande, “Comrade Kennedy Iyere came with sincerity of intention when he suggested the idea of creating NIYEEDEP to the Nigerian Senate and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development. We all know who he is, as a man of courage and uncommon capacity. He campaigned against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and vigorously opposed his political mandate. To think of it that he is today the Coordinator-General of NIYEEDEP, is indeed a lesson for all. President Tinubu has a listening ear, the economic engagement of youths tops his priority list. This is why the youths of Nigeria should key into the economic activities of NIYEEDEP and join forces in driving the desired rapid economic recovery and development regardless of our political affiliations.”
He added that the recruitment of youths into the “Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme” will commence on December 9, as a means of creating mass youth employment, alleviating poverty and fostering adequate food production, food security and food self-sufficiency through value chain agri-food entrepreneurship. He affirmed that the fight against youth unemployment, hunger and extreme poverty is sure to be won through the effective implementation of the “Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme”, anchored by NIYEEDEP. He also unveiled other entrepreneurship interventions, including Food4All Initiative, Waste2Wealth, Arts4Money, Tech4Jobs, Skills2Jobs, Mentee2CEO and the National Unity Cup Football Tournament etc.
Speaking, the Coordinator-General of NIYEEDEP, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, said that the need to salvage Nigerian youths from their present social and economic predicaments was the inspiration that led to the creation of NIYEEDEP.
He also thanked Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, acting Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, and 10th senate for helping to birth NIYEEDEP into reality.
“I believe in Nigeria and sure know that its protracted economic underdevelopment will no longer exist for too long. Ours is a country blessed with abundant natural and human resources. We are the most intelligent people you can find on planet earth, who are also the most hardworking. But all we need do, at this point, is to come together and join forces to rebuild our lost economic greatness through a socio-economic transformation movement driven by the youths. It is for this same reason that I championed the creation of the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP),” Iyere affirmed.
Present at the press briefing are the Clerk of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Oluwagbemiga Okenla, who represented the Coordinating Chairman of NIYEEDEP, Senator Nwoko, and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Olusanya Olubunmi, among leaders of several youth bodies drawn across different parts of the country.
Top officials of NIYEEDEP who attended the Press Briefing were Ifeoma Agbomah, Director of Corporate Communication; Collins Okonkwo, National Organizing Secretary and Shedrach Oka, Director of Contacts and Mobilisation.
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