The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerian youth through digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and skills development, while fostering a safer, more inclusive, and responsible digital environment for young people.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, stated this during the Meta Youth Online Safety Summit held in Abuja on Friday.
The minister assured that youth development remained a top priority of the federal government, adding that sustainable empowerment programmes were essential to unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s youthful population.
A press release signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the ministry, Omolara Esan quoted the minister as saying that the ministry was committed to creating opportunities that equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to become productive contributors to national development.
According to him, strategic investments in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation continued to serve as critical pathways for youth empowerment and economic growth.
Olawande commended Meta and other development partners for their sustained collaboration with the government in advancing youth-focused digital initiatives across the country.
He acknowledged the transformative role of digital platforms in enabling young people to access opportunities, acquire knowledge, build businesses, and actively participate in the digital economy.
“Many young people today rely on digital platforms for education, business, communication, and innovation. We commend Meta for providing platforms and services that have positively impacted the lives of millions of Nigerian youths,” he said.
He emphasised that online safety was a shared responsibility that begins at home, noting that parents remained the first teachers and role models in shaping responsible digital behaviour among children and young people.
He said the government’s interventions and digital literacy programmes were designed to complement parental guidance, ensuring that young people can safely navigate the digital space while maximizing the opportunities it offers.
He further highlighted the federal government’s collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Meta, and other stakeholders to strengthen youth empowerment through digital skills development and innovation-driven programmes.
According to him, ongoing reforms were aimed at repositioning the NYSC Scheme to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance, thereby encouraging corps members to become job creators rather than job seekers.
The minister also said the Nigeria Youth Academy (NYA), was established to equip young Nigerians with the digital competencies required to thrive in the rapidly evolving global economy.
In her remarks, the Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa (AWA) at Meta, Ms. Sade Dada, noted that the gathering of government representatives, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and educators reflected Meta’s belief that the “most effective solutions to online safety challenges emerge through collective action and multi-stakeholder collaboration.”