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PRESIDENT TINUBU AT NiYA LAUNCH:: We’re Equipping Nigerian Youths To Be Major Competitors On Global Stage
PRESIDENT TINUBU AT NiYA LAUNCH:: We’re Equipping Nigerian Youths To Be Major Competitors On Global Stage
** Says Nigerian Youth Academy is a bold response to unemployment, poverty, other barriers to nation’s progress
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed 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.
He listed areas the government intends to train the young population to include world-class training in digital literacy, technical skills, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries, even as he pointed out that the success of a nation becomes realistic “when its children go to bed guaranteed of their place in the changing world.”
The President who stated this when he officially launched the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted that as a peculiar nation with a median age of 17 years, Nigeria is one of the youngest populations in the world.
President Tinubu who was represented at the launch by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, 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.
NiYA, according to the Nigerian leader, will focus on three critical areas namely 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”.
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.
“These statistics are not just numbers; they reflect lives disrupted, dreams deferred, and futures left uncertain. The Nigerian Youth Academy is our commitment to changing this narrative.”
“The Nigerian Youth Academy will nurture the next generation of leaders, training them in governance, policy-making, and community development. We believe that the success of this initiative rests not in Abuja alone but in the communities where real change is felt.”
Earlier, Minister for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, explained that the initiative is designed to equip young Nigerians with marketable skills.
“The President promised to the Nigerian youths to provide a platform where they can achieve their dreams; the dream of many Nigerian youths is to have a good job and live a good life,” he said.
The Minister noted that NiYA aims to “upscale and bridge the skill gap in the job market and will close the gap for many youths to be empowered with the skills needed for the job.
“This initiative is for every Nigerian youth. NiYA represents the determination of Mr. President to help all youths build a better future and create opportunities for themselves and their families,” Olawande added.
The Minister urged young Nigerians to seize the opportunity, saying it is an opportunity for every Nigerian youth to get on board, learn a skill and get engaged to take control of the future.
Also, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun congratulated beneficiaries of the N1million presented to six members of NiYA representing the six geo-political zones of the country for a start-up package to help them implement their programmes as self-employed and skilled youth.
Mr Edun said NiYA is a bold and ambitious step towards achieving President Tinubu’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians.
He explained that NiYA speaks directly to the aspirations of over sixty million Nigerian youths from the ages of 18 and 35 within the nation’s borders and across the diaspora who are hungry for knowledge, skills and opportunity.
“We know that skills, not just certificates, are the real currency of today’s global digital economy and that is why NiYA is so important, it is more than a learning platform. It is a launch pad for a new generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs, creators, professionals, and founders who can reach out all over the world comfortably seated using the internet,” he stated.
PRESIDENT TINUBU AT NiYA LAUNCH:: We’re Equipping Nigerian Youths To Be Major Competitors On Global Stage
NIMC Promotes 523 Staff Members
By: Michael Mike
The DG/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr (Dr) Abisoye Coker-Odusote has approved the promotion of 523 Staff of the Commission.
The promotion, according to a statement on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Commission, Dr. Kayode Adegoke is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Adegoke said: “This is a statutory part of the performance reward system for Staff who sat and met the pre-requisite conditions as spelt out in the Public Service Rules (PSR) in the 2025 promotion exercise.
He disclosed that accordingly, two staff members were promoted to the Director’s cadre (GL 17), and eight staff members moved to the Deputy Director cadre (GL 16) and 35 staff staff members promoted to the Assistant Director cadre (GL 15).
He further disclosed that 35 staff were promoted to the level of Chief Identity Officers (GL 14), with 109 moving to Assistant Chief Identity Officers (GL 13).
Adegoke said 113 officers moved to the rank of Principal Identity Officer (GL 12), while 82 were promoted to Senior Identity Officer ranks (GL 10), and 130 to the rank of Identity Officer 1 ( GL 9).
The DG/CEO congratulated all the promoted staff and charged them to see the promotion as an opportunity to serve the country better. She reiterated zero tolerance for extortion and warned staff to desist from it.
Engr Coker-Odusote, furthermore, encouraged all staff members of the Commission to work harder in the coming year 2026 and ensure the successful implementation of the National Identification Number project. She reiterated her commitment to prioritise staff welfare and ensure the dignity of labour.
NIMC Promotes 523 Staff Members
VP Shettima Extols Gov Uzodimma’s Progressive Leadership At 67
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima has congratulated Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Senator Hope Uzodimma, on his 67th birthday, saying his exemplary and progressive leadership within the All Progressives Congress (APC), his state, and the nation at large is worthy of emulation.
He noted that as Chairman of the PGF, an umbrella body of Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uzodimma has demonstrated exceptional capacity to unite and galvanise the party’s Governors towards achieving a collective vision for Nigeria’s development under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Vice President on Saturday, described the age of 67 as an important milestone in the life of Uzodimma, noting that the special moment reflects how far the Governor has come, and sets the stage for what lies ahead.
Acknowledging how Uzodimma’s “exemplary leadership as Executive Governor of Imo State continues to inspire confidence and progress,” VP Shettima described the PGF Chairman as a committed servant of Nigeria.
“Your recent appointment by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as Renewed Hope Ambassador is a well-deserved recognition of your unwavering dedication to the ideals of our administration and your proven ability to articulate and champion the transformative agenda of the Renewed Hope mandate across our nation,” the VP told the Governor.
This singular honour, Senator Shettima said, reflects President Tinubu’s confidence in Governor Uzodimma’s leadership and commitment to national progress.
He observed that the Imo State Governor’s strategic governance, infrastructural achievements, and dedication to the prosperity of his state exemplify the progressive leadership Nigeria needs at this crucial time.
The Vice President prayed the Almighty God to grant Governor Uzodimma continued wisdom, good health, and strength to sustain his “remarkable service to Imo State and Nigeria.”
VP Shettima Extols Gov Uzodimma’s Progressive Leadership At 67
EU Invests Additional €45 million in Nigeria’s Digital Economy
By: Michael Mike
The Europe Union (EU) is investing an additional €45 million in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The package was signed by the Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela in Brussels.
A statement on Thursday by EU read: “At the EU-Nigeria Digital Open Day, which just took place in Brussels, a €45 million programme completing the EU Digital Economy Package for Nigeria was signed between Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela.
“This investment will further support the cooperation in digital sector between Nigeria and the European Union.”
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, said: “Global Gateway is about delivering new opportunities, and the EU-Nigerian cooperation in the digital area has a very strong potential to do exactly that. Our approach to digitalisation is based on skills-transfer, open standards, data protection, privacy and security. This way, we make sure that technologies truly enrich human lives. The new package will take our efforts even further by supporting modern e-public services and investing in the skills that will prepare Nigeria’s youth for the digital future.”
The Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani added: The EU–Nigeria digital economy cooperation reflects our shared belief that digital transformation must provide a platform for growth in productivity driven by technology. As part of this, Project Bridge provides a commercially sustainable entry point for European investors and suppliers to participate in deploying an open-access fibre network at scale. Combined with our leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Digital Public Infrastructure and programmes such as 3 million Technical Talents, Nigeria offers European businesses a market where talent, demand and policy alignment converge to support long-term investment and expansion.”
The programme signed on Thursday includes a flagship Global Gateway support to the Project Bridge that aims to deploy 90 000 km of fibre-optic backbone across Nigeria. This project is the country’s most ambitious digital investment supported by loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, World Bank and African Development Bank.
The €45 million grant supports the preparation of this strategic project with technical assistance and equipment in three complementary ways: for the detailed fiber optic network design, for local skills development and for the supply chain deployment with the mobilisation of the EU private sector.
The EU programme will also contribute to modernise Nigeria’s public administration through secure, user-friendly digital services. it also involves targeted support for Nigeria’s nationwide digital-skills programme, helping train a new generation of technicians, engineers and IT specialists.
According to the statement, this is essential to create new jobs, because large-scale digital projects can only work if the local workforce can maintain, operate and innovate on these networks.
The objective of the EU-Nigeria Open Digital Day was to facilitate access to information for European investors and suppliers interested in participating in the Nigerian digital ecosystem. The focus was on the Project Bridge, presented as an opportunity for collaborations between the EU tech sector and Nigeria.
With this €1.7 billion flagship project is projected to extend Nigeria’s total fibre to 125 000 km (+70%), making it the third-longest terrestrial fibre-optic infrastructure in Africa, following Egypt and South Africa.
Digitalisation is a priority area for the EU-Nigeria partnership as reflected in the €820 million Digital Economy Package launched in 2022 under the EU Global Gateway strategy. The EU-Nigeria collaboration in this sector spans from connectivity to digital skills, entrepreneurship, service and governance with multiple projects.
Nigeria’s digital economy has potential to create jobs, foster economic growth and open greater democratic space in Africa. Nigeria hosts big companies, and Lagos offers digital and business ecosystem with incubators, access to finance and digital service platforms. It has the biggest e-commerce market in Africa with 87 platforms, employing some 2.9 million people.
It is also leading on the continent on digital and start-ups – of the 8 existing African unicorns, 6 are Nigerian, with impressively dynamic States (Lagos) eager to create an ecosystem that promotes innovation, youth and growth largely led by the digital sector.
Global Gateway is the EU’s positive offer to reduce the worldwide investment disparity and boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems.
The Global Gateway strategy embodies a Team Europe approach that brings together the European Union, EU Member States, and European development finance institutions.
Together, they aim to mobilise up to €300 billion in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027, creating essential links rather than dependencies, and closing the global investment gap.
EU Invests Additional €45 million in Nigeria’s Digital Economy
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