The Federal Government and development stakeholders have called for stronger and sustained investment in the health, education, skills and economic empowerment of young Nigerians, stressing that the country’s youthful population can become a major driver of development when provided with the right opportunities.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made the call at the Regional Youth Convening on Health and Development organised by the Stand With A Girl Initiative at the United Nations House in Abuja.
Olawande, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, said youth development should be treated as a strategic investment rather than simply a social intervention.
Health, education and skills remain critical
The minister said a productive generation depends on young people having access to quality healthcare, education, relevant skills and opportunities to participate meaningfully in the economy.
He identified issues affecting young people across the region, including mental health concerns, sexual and reproductive health challenges, nutrition, substance use, HIV and other infections, gender-based violence and menstrual health.
Olawande stressed the importance of connecting education and skills development with entrepreneurship and decent employment opportunities.
He also called for stronger youth-responsive health services to ensure that young people receive appropriate support as they transition into adulthood.
Africa’s youth population presents opportunity
The UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, said West and Central Africa is home to about 170 million people aged between 10 and 24, representing roughly one-third of the region’s population.
She cautioned, however, that having a large youthful population does not automatically translate into economic development.
According to Mafico, governments and development partners need systems capable of identifying promising youth-led solutions, testing them, providing financing and taking successful interventions to a larger scale.
She urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions and establish clear policy and investment pathways for initiatives that demonstrate results.
Youth participation in policymaking
The Minister also called for greater involvement of young people in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies affecting them.
He said youths should not be treated merely as beneficiaries of government and development programmes but should have meaningful opportunities to contribute to decisions concerning their future.
The call comes as the Federal Ministry of Youth Development continues to expand programmes focused on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and access to economic opportunities.
In August, the ministry reported that 239,726 young Nigerians had received digital, employability and practical skills through the Nigerian Youth Academy, known as NiYA.
From skills to economic opportunities
The ministry has also been pursuing partnerships designed to help young entrepreneurs move beyond training into business development and access to capital.
Through a partnership between NiYA and Cascador announced in August, the ministry said selected young founders would receive support to make their businesses investment-ready, with eight top-performing founders eligible for up to ₦5 million each in non-dilutive funding.
Such initiatives reflect the growing emphasis on connecting skills development with practical opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
Stakeholders demand stronger collaboration
The Executive Director of the Stand With A Girl Initiative, Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola, called for stronger cooperation and accountability among institutions working on youth development.
She also advocated innovative financing and better coordination so that youth-focused interventions can produce lasting results.
Other participants at the Abuja meeting included representatives of government, development organisations, civil society, academia and youth groups from Nigeria and other West and Central African countries.
Investment must translate into opportunities
The discussions placed emphasis on ensuring that investment in young people produces tangible improvements in their lives.
For Nigeria, this means strengthening the link between education, health, technical skills, entrepreneurship and access to finance, while creating channels through which young people can participate in policy decisions.
The Federal Government has continued to position youth development as a key component of its economic strategy, but stakeholders at the Abuja gathering stressed that sustained collaboration and investment will be necessary to turn the country’s large youthful population into productive economic and social capital.
As the debate shifts from youth potential to youth opportunity, the challenge for policymakers and development partners will be to ensure that programmes reach young people at scale and provide the support needed to convert skills and ideas into sustainable livelihoods.
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