News
FG Rallies Stakeholders to Tackle Youth Poverty and Unemployment through YEIDEP
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has brought together key stakeholders to confront the pressing challenges of poverty, unemployment, and insecurity facing Nigerian youth through the Youth Economic Intervention and Deregulation Program (YEIDEP).
At the YEIDEP Implementation Stakeholders Retreat, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, underscored the urgent need to respond to the growing realities of economic hardship, violent extremism, crime, and antisocial behaviour among young people.
He stressed that the solution lies in providing sustainable economic opportunities especially through agriculture and its value chains to reduce unemployment and disillusionment.
The Minister urged stakeholders to take ownership of YEIDEP’s rollout by defining clear responsibilities, creating a roadmap, setting measurable timelines, and ensuring accountability at every stage.
“YEIDEP is not just another government initiative; it is a national mission essential to Nigeria’s peace, stability, and prosperity,” Comrade Olawande said. He encouraged participants to collaborate, innovate, and empower young Nigerians to embrace enterprise, resilience, and productivity.
Represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Muhammed Abdullahi, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with partners so that YEIDEP delivers real, lasting benefits for Nigerian youth while also contributing meaningfully to national development.
Providing an update on financial partnerships, the Ministry’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Warrens Bekearadebo Augusta, announced that 9 out of 20 invited banks have officially joined YEIDEP, opening accounts, registering beneficiaries, and facilitating financial operations. She added that 3 to 4 more banks are likely to come on board once they meet the necessary requirements.
She further revealed that registration for the first tranche of beneficiaries has been completed, with over 8,000 verified participants enrolled. To manage them effectively, banks are being grouped into clusters, with monitoring frameworks, accountability measures, and timelines already established.
The YEIDEP Coordinator, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, described the programme as a “necessary revolution” for Nigeria’s survival and prosperity. Drawing from his experience across five continents and 77 nations, he emphasized that Nigeria’s struggles are not due to a lack of resources or opportunities but rather to weak political leadership in the past.
He assured stakeholders that YEIDEP is firmly committed to equipping young Nigerians with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, empowering them to drive enterprise, strengthen resilience, and contribute significantly to national progress.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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