The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has announced that the federal government will empower seven million young Nigerians with digital and professional skills to create millions of job opportunities within the next two years.
Olawande made this known at the Strategic Youth Leadership Conference 2025, organised by the Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the National Defence College.
He described the conference as a platform to groom proactive leaders for national development, stressing that the administration is determined to position Nigerian youths in the global digital economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister unveiled the Nigerian Youth Academy and the National Learning Platform, which will train seven million young people in digital and vocational skills by 2027.
He explained that the plan includes a three-million technical talent programme focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and software engineering, with a target of achieving 70 percent national digital literacy by 2027.
Olawande added that the government’s labour and employment programme will provide 2.5 million jobs through enterprise training and employment matching.
He also emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for mentorship, quality education, economic empowerment, and inclusive governance.
“Our goal is to ensure that every young Nigerian has access to the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s economy,” Olawande said.
He stressed that Nigeria’s greatest asset lies in the creativity, energy, and courage of its youth, noting that the government is fully committed to building a workforce ready for the future.