President Bola Tinubu on Monday in Abuja affirmed his administration’s resolve to equip Nigerian youths with the required skills that would enable them to compete effectively as key players on the global stage.

Tinubu, who stated this when he officially launched the Nigerian Youth Academy at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, noted that as a peculiar nation with a median age of 17 years, Nigeria is one of the youngest populations in the world.

Senior Special Assistant to the VP on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed Monday titled, ‘We’re equipping Nigerian youths to be major competitors on global stage.’

President Tinubu, who was represented at the launch by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, listed areas the government intends to train the young population in, including world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries.

He pointed out that a nation’s success becomes realistic “when its children go to bed guaranteed of their place in the changing world.”

Tinubu observed that such peculiarity is an invitation to rise to the challenge of Nigeria’s projection to be the third-largest in the world by 2050, with an overwhelming majority of her citizens under the age of 21.

According to the Nigerian leader, NiYA will focus on three critical areas: education and skills development, economic empowerment, and leadership and civic engagement.

“Through world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries, we will ensure that our youth are equipped to compete on the global stage.

“Initiatives like the Youth Investment Fund and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters will provide financial support, mentorship, and resources to young entrepreneurs, while the establishment of a National Youth Development Bank will ensure access to the capital needed to turn ideas into thriving businesses,” he declared.

President Tinubu explained that the NiYA is a bold response to Nigeria’s low human capital index ranking, unemployment and other barriers to the nation’s progress, assuring that within the next two years, the academy “will train and empower millions of young Nigerians.”

“It will equip them with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to compete with the rest of the world. This is not just an investment in their future; it is an investment in the future of our nation,” he added.

Noting that the security of the nation’s human capital cannot be guaranteed unless a robust, skills-driven learning environment is created, the President said his administration has also made significant strides in the nation’s human capital development agenda.

He continued: “Yet, we must acknowledge the challenges that persist. Nigeria’s Human Capital Index ranking remains below its potential, with youth unemployment and learning poverty presenting critical barriers to progress.



https://punchng.com/tinubu-unveils-academy-for-youth-empowerment/