DAILY COURIER - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), a strategic initiative aimed at equipping young Nigerians with essential skills to thrive in the global arena. The launch event took place on Monday at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with Vice President Kashim Shettima representing the President.
In his address, President Tinubu emphasized his administration's commitment to addressing challenges such as unemployment and poverty by providing world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries. He highlighted that with Nigeria's median age at 17 years, the nation boasts one of the youngest populations globally, presenting both an opportunity and a challenge. Projections indicate that by 2050, Nigeria will be the third-largest country worldwide, with a significant majority under the age of 21. The President stated that NiYA is a bold response to these demographic realities, aiming to train and empower millions of young Nigerians over the next two years.
NiYA's focus encompasses three critical areas: education and skills development, economic empowerment, and leadership and civic engagement. Initiatives such as the Youth Investment Fund and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters will provide financial support, mentorship, and resources to young entrepreneurs. Additionally, the establishment of a National Youth Development Bank is planned to ensure access to capital for transforming innovative ideas into thriving businesses.
President Tinubu underscored the importance of creating a robust, skills-driven learning environment to enhance the nation's human capital development. He acknowledged existing challenges, noting that Nigeria's Human Capital Index ranking remains below its potential, with youth unemployment and learning poverty posing significant barriers to progress. He asserted that NiYA represents a commitment to changing this narrative by nurturing the next generation of leaders through training in governance, policy-making, and community development.
Minister of Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, described NiYA as a platform designed to equip young Nigerians with marketable skills, bridging the gap in the job market and empowering youths to build a better future. He emphasized President Tinubu's dedication to creating an enabling environment for youth development, stating, "The president is determined to create an enabling environment and he started it with [the] student loan scheme." Olawande further highlighted that the administration is working closely with various stakeholders to ensure that the interests of the youth are prioritized.
Complementing this initiative, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, congratulated six NiYA members representing the six geopolitical zones of the country, each receiving N1 million as a start-up package to implement their programs as self-employed and skilled youths. He emphasized that NiYA is a bold and ambitious step toward achieving President Tinubu's commitment to empowering young Nigerians, highlighting that in today's global digital economy, skills—not just certificates—are the real currency.
The launch of the Nigerian Youth Academy marks a significant milestone in the government's efforts to invest in the nation's youth, aiming to foster a generation equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria's development and compete effectively on the global stage.
