News
Youth Ministry Partners Flutterwave to Drive Youth Empowerment, Mentorship
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flutterwave to advance youth empowerment, mentorship, and access to start-up funding. The signing ceremony, presided over by the Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, was attended by senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya.
Under this partnership, the Ministry and Flutterwave will launch strategic initiatives to equip young Nigerians with essential digital skills, mentorship opportunities, and access to funding for start-ups. A key aspect of this collaboration will see Flutterwave streamlining stipend disbursements for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, ensuring faster, more efficient financial access.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his eight priority pillars, which emphasize job creation, youth empowerment, and economic growth. The Director of Legal Services at the Ministry, Mr. Ernest Ezebilo, underscored the partnership’s significance in equipping Nigerian youth with the tools they need to succeed.
Flutterwave Co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to create sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians. He emphasized that this collaboration would help build a robust support system for aspiring entrepreneurs and job seekers.
Minister Olawande lauded Flutterwave’s role in advancing youth-focused initiatives, describing the partnership as a pivotal step toward realizing President Tinubu’s vision for youth empowerment. He highlighted the involvement of key agencies under the Ministry, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Citizenship & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), in implementing these programs.
“This partnership directly contributes to achieving the President’s eight priority pillars by: Creating jobs and driving economic growth, Expanding access to training, mentorship, and funding for young entrepreneurs, Supporting youth-led businesses to foster innovation and industrialization, Strengthening technical and leadership training programs, Enhancing access to capital for start-ups, Leveraging digital innovation to create sustainable employment opportunities Promoting civic engagement through NYSC and CLTC initiatives and Demonstrating the impact of public-private sector collaboration in national development,” Comrade Olawande stated.
The Honourable Minister reaffirmed that this partnership with Flutterwave will significantly enhance the Ministry’s mission to empower Nigerian youth, positioning them as key drivers of the nation’s economic transformation.
News
Ogunlesi backs Tinubu reforms as FIRS chairman Adedeji highlights export-led economy
Joel Ajayi
After a high-level meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Nigerian-born global investor Adebayo Ogunlesi expressed renewed confidence in the country’s economic reforms, indicating potential mega investments across energy, aviation, and port sectors.
He was joined in that optimism by Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who stressed that the reforms were laying the groundwork for an export-driven economy.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Ogunlesi praised the sweeping policy changes under Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of subsidies, tax reforms, and the revival of a refinery already exporting aviation fuel.
“We had an excellent meeting where we discussed how to put Nigeria front and center for international investment. The President was very encouraging, and we shared useful suggestions on driving economic growth,” Ogunlesi said.
Although he declined to reveal specific details, Ogunlesi confirmed that his firm is actively investing in Nigeria and assessing new opportunities.
“Watch this space. Nigeria is not yet the most exciting investment destination, but that’s what we are working on,” he teased.
Pressed on the sectors of interest, Ogunlesi highlighted energy, gas, aviation, ports, and renewables. Drawing on his firm’s experience with LNG projects in Texas and Australia, he noted Nigeria’s massive untapped gas reserves.
On aviation, he acknowledged his reputation as “the guy who bought Gatwick Airport” and signaled interest in similar ventures locally.
He also admitted that one of his companies operates ports in Cotonou and Lomé but none in Nigeria, a point Tinubu reportedly challenged him on.
“He forgave me but said, ‘you have to bring port investment to Nigeria,’” Ogunlesi recounted with a smile.
International investor Hakeem Bello-Osagie, who was also present, underscored the importance of diaspora participation in Nigeria’s growth story.
“When Nigerians at home and abroad invest in Nigeria, it sends a strong signal to the world,” he said, lauding Tinubu’s policies for making the country “investable.”
Echoing the sentiment, FIRS chairman Adedeji described the reforms as the foundation for an export-led economy.
“We’ve done the fundamentals, and now it is time to deliver growth,” he said.
With global players signaling confidence, the momentum for Nigeria’s economic repositioning is gaining ground, setting the stage for transformative investments in key industries.
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