By Sunday Ani
The Federal Government has unveiled a two-year action plan to create 20 million jobs for the youths, through the recently launched Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP).
NIYEEDEP is a pro-youth socioeconomic intervention scheme jointly anchored and driven by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the House of Senate, through its Committee on Sports Development.
A break down of the figures, revealed that 20 million jobs will be created through entrepreneurship revolution in such key sectors like 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 journalists in Abuja, yesterday, at the unveiling of “NIYEEDEP Plan of Action for 2025/2027,” the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stressed the need for the youths to align with the government of President Bola Tinubu in the collective efforts towards building a healthy and safe Nigeria.
He said he was not ignorant of the fact that the youths were undergoing hard times but advised that the only way out of the present economic predicament, was for the youths to proffer the needed economic solutions and position themselves as agents of positive change.
He 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 NIYEEDEP.
He advised the youths to take advantage of the economic opportunities offered by the Federal Government through NIYEEDEP to help themselves achieve economic self-emancipation, while also transforming themselves into agents of nation-building and catalysts for political stability, social transformation and economic development.
“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 him as a man of courage and uncommon capacity. He campaigned against President Bola 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 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,” Olawande said.
The Minister noted that the recruitment of youths into the ‘Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme’ would commence on December 9, 2024, as a means of creating mass youth employment, alleviating poverty and fostering adequate food production, food security and food self-sufficiency through value chain entrepreneurship.
He affirmed that the fight against youth unemployment, hunger and extreme poverty, was sure to be won through the effective implementation of the 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 among others.
On his own part, Iyere thanked the Minister for his passionate patriotism, stressing that the need to salvage the youths from their present socioeconomic 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, for helping to bring NIYEEDEP into reality.
He extended his appreciation to the leadership of the Senate led by Godswill Akpabio for adopting NIYEEDEP and facilitating its creation.
“I believe in Nigeria and I 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 to rebuild our lost economic greatness through a socioeconomic transformation movement driven by the youths. It is for this same reason that I championed the creation of NIYEEDEP,” Iyere affirmed.
In her remarks, the Director of Corporate Communication of NIYEEDEP, Ifeoma Agbomah, emphasised the need for the youths to utilise for their own benefits, including the economic opportunities offered by NIYEEDEP, which she classified as unique and uncommon.
She described NIYEEDEP as a strategic economic engagement platform whose implementation would help to reduce youth unemployment, eradicate hunger and achieve food insecurity.
She said the ‘Youth Farmers’ Cooperative Scheme’ would be driven on the basis of ‘Operation feed your local government.’
Clerk of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Oluwagbemiga Okenla, represented Senator Nwoko, who is the Coordinating Chairman of NIYEEDEP, officially representing the Nigerian Senate, at the press briefing. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mr Olusanya Olubunmi, was also at the press conference. Leaders of several youth bodies drawn across different parts of the country actively participated in the press briefing. Top officials of NIYEEDEP who attended the press briefing were Ifeoma Agbomah, Collins Okonkwo, and Shedrach Oka.