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FG Reiterates Commitment To Youth Development

Published

4 years ago

November 1, 2022

Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has reiterated government’s unflinching resolve to passionately address youth-related issues with the aim of placing them on the path of career development, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and direct employment through various initiatives.

The Minister gave the assurance today in Abuja when he declared open the 2022 Africa/National Youth Day Celebrations with the theme “Breaking Barriers to Meaningful Participation and Inclusion in Advocacy”.

In its efforts to ensure inclusiveness at all levels, and in line with the National Youth Policy, the Minister said that the Ministry has designed and implemented the Mentoring and life enhancement programmes for vulnerable youth and Youth with Disabilities(YWDs ) in different Geo-Political Zones of the Country.

This he added, is aimed at empowering them to cater for themselves and families. *”Our DEEL Initiative which focuses on Digital Literacy and Skills Acquisition, Entrepreneurship, Employability and Leadership have continued to provide opportunities for our youth in training, digital skills, entrepreneurship, soft skills, internships and access to credit and finance among others. The DEEL programme has helped to fill the knowledge and skills gap in the Nigerian youth in the past three (3) years”

He stated further that the Nigeria Online Youth Assembly (NOYA) was another initiative of the present administration, that is geared towards improving livelihoods and promoting the wellbeing and total inclusion of Nigerian youth with opportunities in both government and private sectors *”since inception, the programme has engaged hundreds of thousands of youth, thereby reinventing their future using knowledge and creativity to escape poverty, unemployment, immoral acts and other unhealthy plagues existing in our society”* the Minister reiterated.

He explained that in the nascent days of our nationhood, the youth have stood out and showed the rest of Nigeria and indeed Africa that, with a little push and the right environment, they can aspire to reach their full potentials.

“A case in point is the aspiration and subsequent election of Amb. John Niyi, representing Nigerian Youth for the position of Vice President, West Africa under the Pan African Youth Union. The likes of Tobi Amusan, the Nigerian sprinter who recently set a new world record in the Women’s 100 meters hurdles” he added.

Mr Dare who congratulated the Nigerian youth on this year’s celebration stated further that the occasion provides us with an ample opportunity to critically look into and address issues that have continued to hinder their pursuit for a secured role in decision making, especially on issues that directly affects them, and how to leverage on the experiences garnered from the older generations.

He noted that the Ministry has spearheaded the celebration of this important event since 2007 with series of activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of our youth to contribute to the socio-political and economic development of the country.

In his address, the Honourable Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, represented by Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Kabir, assured that the administration will continue to provide an enabling environment for advancement of youth programmes with a view to empowering them.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar called on the Nigerian youth not to relent in giving out their modest contributions towards nation building.

He therefore called on participants to focus on the key objective of this year’s celebration, to ensure that the Day produces the action plan as well as sustainable strategies and milestone that would alleviate the incessant challenges of youth welfare and development.

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NTAC Celebrates Seven Returnees, Applauds Contributions to Uganda’s Academic Sector

Published

2 hours ago

November 2, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has welcomed seven Nigerian volunteers who successfully completed their two-year assignments at Makerere University, Uganda, commending their dedication, professionalism and contributions to academic development and international cooperation.

The volunteers were received on Monday, November 2, 2026, during a debriefing exercise held at the NTAC Complex in Abuja, where they shared their experiences, achievements and challenges during their service under the Federal Government’s Technical Aid Corps Scheme.

In a statement issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, NTAC, Ojo Adetoun Olubunmi, the exercise was designed to assess the volunteers’ performance, review their experiences and explore ways of translating the knowledge and expertise acquired abroad into meaningful contributions to their respective institutions and Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NTAC, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, the Assistant Director, Programme 11, Mr Felix Obidi, congratulated the returnees on the successful completion of their assignments.

Obidi commended their commitment, professional conduct and exemplary service, noting that their contributions had helped project Nigeria positively in the international community.

Describing the returnees as veterans of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, he urged them to deploy the knowledge, skills and international exposure acquired at Makerere University to improve their institutions and contribute to national development.

He likened their international experience to that of fishes that had explored wider waters, stressing that their exposure should distinguish them professionally and intellectually.

“You are no longer just returning volunteers; you are veterans of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps. We expect you to bring back the knowledge and experience you have acquired at Makerere University and share them with your respective institutions. You are foreign fishes, and we expect more from you,” he said.

Obidi assured the volunteers that their expertise would continue to be valuable to NTAC and the country, while appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained support for the Scheme.

He also acknowledged the contributions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, towards sustaining the programme.

Similarly, the representative of the Director of Programmes, Senior Counsellor Mrs Hauwa Arabu Mustafa, congratulated the returnees and commended their contributions to academic development and the promotion of South-South cooperation.

Speaking on behalf of the returning volunteers, their team leader, Prof. Abdul Anakobe Isah, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NTAC for providing them with the opportunity to serve at Makerere University.

He described the assignment as a rewarding professional experience and praised the university’s management and staff for their hospitality, cooperation, professional support and provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities.

However, he identified some accommodation-related challenges encountered during their two-year assignment.

One of the returning volunteers, Prof. Alo Oluwaseun Olubisi, highlighted her achievements, including securing a Research and Innovation Grant at Makerere University.

She explained that although she initially doubted her eligibility because she was a Nigerian, encouragement from her Head of Department prompted her to apply, eventually leading to a successful grant award.

Olubisi said the assignment significantly improved her teaching methodologies, lecture preparation and delivery while providing opportunities for professional development and research collaboration.

She also disclosed that she facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between Makerere University and her home institution in Nigeria, noting that the partnership had reached an advanced stage.

The debriefing provided an opportunity for the returning volunteers to present their experiences, achievements, challenges and recommendations, which NTAC said would serve as valuable input towards improving the implementation of the Technical Aid Corps Scheme.

The event also featured the presentation of certificates of service to the returning volunteers in recognition of their successful completion of the assignment.

Established in 1987, the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps is a key instrument of Nigeria’s foreign policy and South-South cooperation, deploying skilled Nigerian professionals to countries across Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to provide technical assistance, promote knowledge exchange and strengthen international partnerships.

With more than 10,000 Nigerian professionals deployed to beneficiary countries over the years, the Scheme continues to demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to human capital development, international cooperation and the use of professional expertise as an instrument of development diplomacy.

The successful completion of the Makerere University assignment by the seven volunteers further underscores the importance of the Scheme in fostering professional exchange, strengthening institutional partnerships and ensuring that international exposure translates into tangible benefits for Nigeria’s development.

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