Aderinsola Abiola, the Director-General of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), has called on Nigerian youths to take full advantage of government initiatives aimed at supporting education, entrepreneurship, and leadership development.
She made this known earlier today while attending the International Youth Day event organized by NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs, under the leadership of its National President, Dr. Sameera Abubakar Abdullah.
Speaking during the Government panel session, Abiola highlighted several programs introduced by the Renewed Hope administration to empower young people and boost their economic prospects.
According to her, “Some of the initiatives highlighted include NELFUND, which sets young people on the path to academic fulfillment and economic prosperity by removing financial barriers to higher education; the Nigerian Youth Academy, an online resource for skill acquisition and job opportunities; the Corprenuer Scheme, which equips National Youth Corps members with valuable skills (and business grants, in some cases), among many others.”
Abiola encouraged participants to stay updated about opportunities from key financial institutions. “I also recommended staying updated about offerings by key organisations like the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture, so that young entrepreneurs may take advantage of opportunities which are well suited to their businesses,” she stated.
She further advised young people to remain informed about youth-centered programs using official government resources. “I urged the audience to keep abreast of youth-focused government initiatives via the Youth Initiatives Dashboard, created by the Office of the SA to the President on Youth Initiatives Nigeria, and accessed through the website of the Federal Ministry for Youth Development via yid.fmyd.gov.ng,” Abiola said.
When asked about her personal contributions to youth empowerment, Abiola noted that while serving as SSAP, she initiated the Young Women’s Leadership Conference and later facilitated the Leadership and Business Development Training, which saw beneficiaries receive business grants of N500,000 each.
She concluded by pledging continued support for youth entrepreneurship. “When asked to make a commitment regarding youth entrepreneurship, I pledged to work with NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs for the next edition of the conference and on other initiatives, God willing,” she affirmed.
Abiola ended her remarks by urging youths to participate in civic duties. “Beyond business, civic responsibilities must be taken seriously, and we all have a role to play in nation building,” she said, encouraging young people to register for the ongoing CVR exercise.