The Federal Government, through the coordinator of the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), Comrade Kennedy Iyere, has confirmed plans to roll out the programme on a large scale in 2026, following the completion of its planning and system-development phase ahead of nationwide implementation.
The commitment was reaffirmed at YEIDEP’s end-of-year stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, which brought together key financial partners, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as service vendors supporting the initiative. The gathering focused on reviewing progress made since the programme commenced in 2024 and aligning stakeholders on priorities for the next phase.
Speaking at the meeting, Iyere said YEIDEP had successfully concluded its planning and system-development stage and was now positioned for full implementation aimed at delivering measurable outcomes for young Nigerians. He explained that the programme was designed to address unemployment and social vulnerability through structured economic empowerment and de-radicalisation interventions.
According to him, YEIDEP is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), with a strong emphasis on building sustainable livelihoods for young people. He noted that the past year had been used to strengthen partnerships, coordinate funding arrangements, and put in place the structures required for effective delivery.
Presenting a progress report, Iyere highlighted key milestones recorded in 2025, including expanded partnerships with financial institutions, improved funding coordination, and strengthened implementation frameworks. He said the engagement provided an opportunity to account for progress made so far, assess challenges encountered, and fine-tune plans for the coming year.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who was represented at the event by his chief of staff, Muhammed Abdullahi, commended partners for their continued support and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to youth-focused economic and social interventions. He stressed that collaboration with the private sector and development partners remained critical to achieving long-term impact.
Olawande explained that the previous year was deliberately devoted to planning, stakeholder engagement, and beneficiary onboarding, adding that adequate preparation was essential for successful execution. He disclosed that YEIDEP would be implemented in phases, beginning with an initial target of 20 million beneficiaries nationwide.
Of this number, the minister said about 12 million young Nigerians had already been registered and onboarded, with their account details verified. He added that the remaining eight million beneficiaries would be onboarded within the first quarter of 2026, completing the first phase of the programme, while preparations for a second phase would commence around the middle of the year.
He further explained that YEIDEP is structured to support youth participation across the agricultural value chain, noting that beneficiaries would not be limited to primary farming activities alone. According to him, young people would be able to participate in farming, marketing, processing, and trading of agricultural products, depending on their interests and capacities.
The minister said this approach was intended to strengthen food systems, boost productivity, and create sustainable livelihoods for young Nigerians. He clarified that financial support under the programme would be provided as grants rather than loans, with a minimum of N500,000 earmarked as start-up capital for each beneficiary.
He emphasised that the funds were not subject to repayment and were designed to help participants establish viable agri-based enterprises. He described the initiative as a strategic investment in youth productivity rather than a welfare scheme, adding that the 2026 implementation phase would mark a transition from planning to impact delivery.
Also speaking at the meeting, a director at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Augusta Warrens, underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and effective financial management in executing youth programmes. She expressed appreciation to stakeholders and financial partners for supporting efforts to reduce hunger, insecurity, and unemployment through food production and job creation.
Warrens stated that the programme had already brought a significant number of Nigerian youths on board, with a long-term vision of building a youth-driven conglomerate over the next ten years. As chairperson of the YEIDEP finance committee, she said the next stage would focus on implementing the 2026 Action Plan using the structures and processes already established.
She added that the ministry was preparing for a donor drive to mobilise additional funding aimed at ensuring young Nigerians are gainfully employed and able to create jobs. On his part, the special adviser to the Kano State governor on youth and sports development, Sani Musa Denja, said the programme was designed to steer youths away from drugs and other social vices and encourage self-reliance.
Denja disclosed that several banks had already captured large numbers of youths, including figures of 300,000, over one million, 1.5 million, and nearly 500,000 beneficiaries. He said the next step was to empower these youths through the participating banks, adding that the first phase of empowerment was expected to be completed by February 2026, with training and empowerment activities set to commence.
