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FG Commemorates World Youth Skills Day, Charges Them To Harness Potentials

Published

3 years ago

August 11, 2023

Joel Ajayi

In line with the United Nations General Assembly Declaration on the Celebration of the World Youth Skills Day, the Federal Government has commemorated the Day with a charge to the Nigerian Youth to look inwards, identify their aspirations, dreams, talents and potentials with a view to putting them into positive use for socio-economic development of the country.

In his keynote address at the occasion held today at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar stated that the youth are the greatest assets any nation can have and thus legitimately regarded as the future leaders who are potentially the highest investment of a country’s socio-economic, political and technological development.

Alhaji Ismaila, however, observed that the number of youth who are unemployed or exposed to lower quality level work is of great concern to the government.

He explained that this year’s Commemoration with the theme: *Skilling Teachers, Trainers and Youth for a Transformative future* is apt as it is set to bring in the required synergy among all job and employment creators, with a view to increasing enthusiasm for skills acquisition and entrepreneurship among the youth aimed at taking them off the steeets.

The Permanent Secretary assured of the Ministry’s unreserved commitment to full implementation of the core mandate of youth development policies in line with the policy thrust of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration through its numerous skill acquisition programmes which he said, has been exhibited through various investment and intervention programmes and thus urged the youth to reciprocate by putting their talents into positive use.

While calling on well meaning Nigerians, development partners, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as well as relevant stakeholders to continue to partner and collaborate with the Federal Government, not only in the area of identifying and catering for the youth but also empowering them in their various fields of endeavour, Alhaji Ismaila urged them to be committed to youth skills development through the creation of various platforms to showcase their talents, skills and connectivity so as to promote national development.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Enterprise Development and Promotion Department, (EDPD), Mr Olugbenga Momoh assured of the youth’s readiness and commitment to equip themselves with relevant ICT skills in order to explore job and employment opportunities in the technological-driven economy of the world so as to become relevant in the work of the future.

He commended all the partners for their support and the present administration in particular for the commitment towards the successful implementation of youth programmes, adding that it is a clear demonstration of all to one of the potential strategies at reducing the rate of Youth unemployment, poverty and restivness, especially among the youth and the attendant vices plaguing our nation.

Highlights of the occasion include the presentation of goodwill messages by Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), as well as relevant stakeholders

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AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

October 25, 2026

The Gleamer

By James Samuel, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.

This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.

Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.

“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.

“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”

He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.

“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.

He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.

According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.

“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.

She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.

“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.

The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.

The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.

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