FG trains 14,509 NYSC members in digital skills

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has said that his ministry has not only met its National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) training for the second-quarter targets of 14,509 youth (out of 10,000) in digital skills, it has exceeded it.

He said that with a target of 10,000, the ministry has engaged 97,212 in mentorship and career development.

Also, the ministry targeted 80,000 but trained 5,023 in crime reduction and peace-building while it enrolled over 250,000 in the Nigerian Youth Academy as against 2,500 target.

Five thousand, seven hundred (5,700) helpdesk cases were processed with 3,407 resolved and ₦31.6 million generated from Youth Centres with a target of ₦11 million). He further announced that a dedicated window of the National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) will target women and youth with disabilities, alongside new partnerships with women’s groups, disability organisations, and the private sector, supported by clear performance indicators.

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gutier Migot, reaffirmed the European Union’s strong partnership with the ministry, praising its leadership and past collaborations, including the 2021 National Youth Conference and the 2024 civil society organisation (CSO) Stakeholders’ Forum, which shaped the new National Youth Action Plan.

The minister highlighted ongoing EU-backed initiatives such as the D SAFE Project (with UNFPA), the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme, Digital Transformation Centres, and the EU Agricultural Value Chain Facility, while commending the resilience of Nigerian youth.

Declaring the retreat open, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described it as a strategic moment for reflection and renewed commitment, noting the ministry’s focus on strengthening co-ordination, enhancing performance management, building staff capacity, and creating flexible, sustainable structures.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, commended the minister’s vision and highlighted NYSC’s contributions. 56,013 corps members trained in digital skills (including 2,920 women in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre) and 385,461 engaged in SAED since June 2023, with 1,118 supported to establish businesses. He reaffirmed NYSC’s commitment to partnerships that advance youth empowerment and national development.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Ms. Rinsola Abiola, described the retreat as a timely opportunity to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on nurturing responsible, patriotic, and ethical youth. She reaffirmed CLTC’s commitment to collaboration and urged participants to contribute innovative ideas that will shape youth policy and advance the vision of “Build the Youth, Build the Nation.”