By Idris Auwal
The Federal Government has unveiled a N120 billion youth empowerment programme aimed at addressing unemployment and Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis through skills acquisition.
The initiative, announced by Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, during the Adolescent and Youth Ministerial Dialogue in Abuja, seeks to partner with registered companies capable of training at least 60,000 youths within three months.
A model that is transforming learning across the globe
According to the Minister—represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Prof. Ali Idris—trainees will receive starter packs upon completing their training to support their transition into the workforce.
“This programme is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to empower vulnerable youth, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), with practical, employable skills,” she said.
The Ministry also plans to engage young people in shaping the programme through a stakeholder meeting. “We want the youth to identify key training areas. Their input will guide implementation,” Ahmad added.
Highlighting the economic challenges faced by the nation, the Minister noted that with rising company exits and limited government jobs, skill acquisition offers the best path to employment—both locally and abroad.
Youth-Led Advocacy Key to Change
Jonathan Abakpa, Advocacy Officer at Plan International Nigeria, emphasized the growing impact of youth advocacy. He pointed to last year’s conference, which led to the development of the Adolescent and Young People’s Roadmap guiding policy interventions.
“This year’s inter-ministerial dialogue offers youths a platform to engage directly with decision-makers,” Abakpa said. He called for more government attention to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and the high number of out-of-school children.
In addition to the skills acquisition programme, the government is investing in digital education:
Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL): A NITDA and NYSC initiative to train 30 million Nigerians in digital skills.
DeepTech Ready Upskilling Programme: Designed to train 20,000 youths in data science and AI.
DBI-SBTS Partnership: A collaboration with U.S.-based SBTS Group to improve Nigerian youths’ global digital competitiveness.
These efforts form part of a broader strategy to close the digital divide and equip young Nigerians with tools to thrive in the modern job market.