Joel Ajayi

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML) and Mind the Gap Television to promote youth innovation and strengthen youth-focused media engagement across Nigeria.

The MoU with CIML is aimed at implementing the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative, a programme designed to unlock the innovative potential of Nigerian youth and support them in becoming entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders.

The Ministry also signed a separate MoU with Mind the Gap Television to produce and promote a youth-focused YouTube television programme titled “The Youths Are Here,” which will provide a digital platform to showcase youth voices, ideas, and development initiatives across the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Keshinro, who represented the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the initiatives as strategic platforms designed to harness the creativity and energy of Nigerian youth while connecting them with opportunities for enterprise development and national growth.

In his address ,the Honourable Minister noted that Nigeria is endowed with one of the largest youth populations in the world, presenting the country with a unique opportunity to drive innovation-led development. He stated that across universities, polytechnics, research institutions, and communities, young Nigerians are generating remarkable ideas and conducting valuable research capable of addressing real-life challenges. He however noted that many of these ideas often remain underfunded, uncommercialized, or disconnected from platforms that can transform them into viable enterprises.

According to the Minister, the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative was conceived to bridge this gap by providing a national platform where young Nigerians—both students and non-students can present innovative ideas, develop prototypes, receive mentorship, and connect with investors and industry leaders.

He further stated that the programme will focus on key sectors critical to Nigeria’s development, including agriculture and food security, renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare innovation, smart infrastructure, and the creative economy.

Comrade Olawande
emphasized that the partnership between the Ministry and its collaborators is both timely and strategic, noting that the organisations bring valuable expertise, institutional credibility, and media visibility that will strengthen the implementation and outreach of the initiatives.

He added that beyond the competition aspect of the programme, the initiative is designed to create sustainable impact by encouraging the emergence of youth-led start-ups, promoting the commercialization of research, strengthening innovation ecosystems within educational institutions, and attracting private sector investment as well as international partnerships.

The Honourable Minister noted that the signing of the MoUs marks the beginning of a transformative journey that reflects the Ministry’s commitment to moving beyond policy discussions to concrete actions that empower Nigerian youth to realize their full potential.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of CIML Nigeria, Dr. Steve Longe, described the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative as a pioneering programme designed to bring together Nigerian youth from diverse backgrounds, educational levels, and regions under a single national platform that promotes innovation, enterprise development, and collaborative growth.
He noted that the programme will provide an inclusive opportunity for young Nigerians in both the formal and non-formal education sectors to contribute to national development through creativity, knowledge development, and entrepreneurship.

Also speaking, the representative of Mind the Gap Community and Youth Development Foundation, Mr. Tayo Olosunde, emphasized the importance of effective digital communication in ensuring that government development initiatives reach and positively impact young Nigerians across the country through platforms such as the YouTube programme “The Youths Are Here.”

The initiatives are expected to serve as catalysts for youth-driven innovation, entrepreneurship, and national engagement while promoting sustainable economic growth.

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