Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has urged Nigerian youths to actively participate in the federal government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP) as part of efforts to reduce unemployment, economic marginalization and exclusion among young people.
Olawande, who was represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Warrens Augusta, gave the call during the “YEIDEP River State Stakeholders Engagement Forum” held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, September 11, 2025. The forum was sponsored by Alpha Morgan Bank.
He explained that YEIDEP was initiated as a commitment by the federal government to tackle unemployment, poverty, and radicalization among Nigerian youths, which he described as challenges threatening socio-political stability, national security, and economic development.
Commending President Bola Tinubu for establishing the scheme, Olawande stated, “President Bola Tinubu GCFR, deserves the gratitude and appreciation of Nigerian youths for his role in the creation of this strategic youth economic empowerment scheme… With YEIDEP and its effective implementation, these ugly social factors will soon be mitigated.”
YEIDEP Coordinator-General, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, stressed the need for State Governors and elected officials to support the programme, describing it as vital to addressing Nigeria’s high youth unemployment rate and its dangerous consequences.
“Nigeria’s chronic youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb… YEIDEP offers us an escape route away from a looming political destruction,” Iyere warned, while urging investment from governments, wealthy Nigerians, and global partners to secure the programme’s success.
Executive Director of Alpha Morgan Bank, Adedoyin Anyaehie, also praised President Tinubu, the Minister of Youth Development, and the YEIDEP leadership for their dedication to youth empowerment.
She reaffirmed the bank’s support for youth and women empowerment initiatives, stressing that YEIDEP aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Anyaehie pointed out that Nigeria’s youthful population, which makes up about 60 to 70 percent of the nation and is estimated at 160 to 170 million people, represents a formidable force for economic growth if effectively harnessed.
“Nigerian youth are not just the future of this nation, they are the ‘now’ of Nigeria, and the greatest asset we have as a country,” she said. “The shared vision of building a secure, prosperous, and inclusive Nigeria is why we not only stand with YEIDEP, but also remain committed to supporting programmes that empower our youths.”
The Port Harcourt stakeholders forum brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs, CSOs, cooperative societies, and women and youth groups to design a roadmap for YEIDEP’s implementation. The initiative aims to create jobs for twenty million young men and women through entrepreneurship and self-employment.