Featured

Minister Of Youth Takes DY.ng To African Economic Conference

Published

6 years ago

December 4, 2019

…Confident of meeting target of training youth in digital skills

Joel Ajayi

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Tuesday presented a component of an initiative of his Ministry, Digital Youth Nigeria (DY.ng), to a gathering of continental stakeholders at a panel session of the 2019 African Economic Conference in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt with the theme Jobs, Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development for African Youth.

He expressed the confidence that the target of equipping one million youth with digital skills is attainable given the initiative of other stakeholders like the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The Minister, during a session on Ministerial Dialogue on Youth Employment Policy, spoke on the workings of DY.ng, under which the Ministry will train 500,000 youth in digital skills at various youth centres across the six geo-political zones in conjunction with private sector partners.

Mr Dare who also participated in another session on “Enhancing demand-driven digital and technical skills development” said “We are looking at digital literacy at the bottom of the pyramid. Those who are not graduates, with primary school certificates will also be trained in the basic digital skills they need to thrive in this modern time.

“I am now very confident that we can attain the training of 1 million Nigerian youth in digital skills now that I have seen that AfDB is planning for 25 million under its Coding for Employment programme.

DY.ng is a component under DEEL, which stands for Digital skills acquisition, Entrepreneurship, Employability and Leadership.

Mr Dare had said he will use DEEL to scale up the number of youth that are trained under the Federal Government programmes especially since the initiative will work to strengthen the thematic areas of the National Youth Policy.

The panel discussions explored how to better understand the practical policy changes required to create Decent Jobs for Youth and improve their entrepreneurial capacities.

Shortly before departing for the conference at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday, Mr Dare noted that “the objective is to network at this conference and bring more potential stakeholders on board in a way that eliminates duplications such that the scarce resources allocated to youth development by each one of them will be effectively used to reach more beneficiaries.

“We are continuing to identify more government agencies and international partners that can plug into what we are doing. We will continue to share our vision for the Nigerian youth with them so what we can find areas of collaboration,” he explained.

Mr Dare noted that this year’s conference speaks to the various components of DEEL like the Digital Youth Nigeria (DY.ng) that will equip 500,000 youth with the skill needed to thrive in a digitized world, the Work Experience Programme (WEP) that pair youth with corporation organizations to gain work experience thereby boosting their employability and the entrepreneurship component of the initiative that will provide self-employment skills in addition to seeking funding for youth-owned enterprises.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

1 week ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

Share on Facebook