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2024 WYSD : We’ll Uplift The Youths Through Initiatives – Minister of Youth

Published

2 months ago

July 16, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Federal Government yesterday re-assured that, it will do all within her strength to lift many Nigerian Youth out of unemployment cycles through its numerous initiative put in place to bring prosperity to the youths.

The Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim gave the assurance in Abuja at the occasion of 2024 World Youth Skills Day celebrations, she said that, Nigerian youths are potentially the greatest investment for a country’s socio-economic, political and technological development.

She expressed that the Federal government knows the importance of youths in the present government. This has inspired the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to graciously approved a total of N110 billion to be released for the operation of the newly restructured Youth Development Fund and the investment in agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises instead of 75billion earlier approved.

2024 WYSD with the theme Youth Skills For Peace and Development , “Upskilling Youthful Peace” , “Skill Up Youth For Development.”

It will be recalled that United Nations General Assembly daclared that all member states to celebrate the Word Youth Skills Day on the 15th July of every year, it was on this that, put in place program in collaboration with other critical stakeholders in youth employment and empowerment to commemorate to celebrate the day.

According to her, the aim of the commemoration is to appreciate and celebrate the contributions of skills acquisition and development to nation building with the primary objective of reducing restiveness and poverty, encourage and support job creation, and most Importantly reduce the high rate of unemployment among the youth in developing economies.

“Federal Ministry of Youth Development recognizes the high level of the commitment of various stakeholders in this event. The designated day seeks to generate greater awareness of discussions on how important skills acquisition are in promoting national economic growth and personal success. It is believed that skill acquisition will contribute to reducing unemployment among the youth across the globe. The day highlights youth skills development and draws attention to the critical needs and the importance of technical, vocational, entrepreneurial and modern agricultural education and training to both national and global economics.

“Millions of youth worldwide are loved and therefore unengaged with any meaningful and sustainable livelihood and the worrisome part of the scenario is that majority bracket live in developing countries where young people are ed and continuously exposed to lower quality level jobs, or market inequality, longer and more insecure school to work s. In fact young people in their twenties (20) are not just bored, they are frustrated at how they are locked out of local decision making processes as well as economic and life opportunities. These disengaged, disenfranchised and frustrated set of youth are a growing concern of the present admistren.

“World Skills Day is set to bring in the required ergy among the critical actors in youth development. Therefore at end of the dy believe that the programme would have successfully achieved increadeshusiasm for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development in Nige challenge all the stakeholders for enhanced commitment to skill development and create a laudable platform to launch a new project on skills acquisition and developmeht that aligns with the RENEWED HOPE AGENDA.

“It is worthy to note that the youth is one of the greatest assets that any nation can have and are legitimately regarded as the future leaders and partners of today. They are potentially the greatest investment for a country’s socio-economic, political and technological development.”

“On our part, the Ministry shall continue to initiate and implement youth employment programmes and activities that will take our youth off the streets. In response to the high rate of unemployment among the youth and in line with its core mandates, the Ministry recently organized a scale up capacity building programme in Fashion design and Tailoring business with the establishment and equipping, by the Ministry, of a tailoring Hub in National Youth Development Centre, Odeomu, Osun State with modern fashion and tailoring machineries where interested youth entrepreneurs can access the centre to acquire and develop their skills in fashion design and allied businesses amongst others.”

She called on all well-spirited Individuals, groups and existing partners present here that there is urgent need for multidisciplinary collaboration and team work in Identifying and catering for the need of the skilled youth.

In his welcome addressed, permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dunuoma Umar Ahmed appealed to all youth in the country not to engage in any social devices, drugs or any action that will jeopardize their future.

Also speaking, the Director Enterprises Development and promotion of Ministry Mr Momoh Olugbenga stated that 2024 WYSD remains a clear demonstration of determination and commitment of all to promote skills acquisition, peace and socio-economic development of the country.

No doubt, Millions of youth worldwide are unemployed, uneducated and unengaged with the majority living in developing countries. Young people are underemployed and continuously exposed to lower quality level jobs, greater labor market inequality, longer and more insecure school to work transitions. In fact, young people in their twenties (20) are not just bored, they are frustrated at how they are locked out of local decision making processes as well as economic and life opportunities. These disengaged, disenfranchised and frustrated set of youth are a growing concern of the government.

He said that; the 2024 World Skills Day with the theme ‘Youth Skills For Peace and Development’ is all set to bring in the required synergy among all critical actors in jobs and employment creation for socio-economic development and peace of the country.

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Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

6 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

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