My heart radiates with happiness to see the number of participants under the various youth groups in Ogbomoso and environs that have turned up here today to take part in this capacity building. It is a testimony to the fact that there is a yearning among our youth to upskill themselves when the opportunity is presented to them. Furthermore, the number of participants here is an indication that the youth realize they need to acquire the added advantage, which is the additional skills, different from their original courses of study, to thrive in a world that has become increasingly more digital, entrepreneurship oriented and competitive.

It is in response to these realities that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, which I oversee, has introduced the DEEL initiative, which is Digital Skills acquisition, Internship, Employability, and Leadership. Youth from across the country are already benefitting from pieces of a training run in conjunction with partners like IMB, Microsoft, and Google.

The Federal Government has taken the additional step of equipping youth to start and own their own businesses with the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF). It is a ringfenced N75 billion naira for bankable youth ideas and businesses at a 5% interest rate with a moratorium of up to 12 months.

It is my desire to see the youth here in Ogbomoso, in Oyo state, and all over Nigeria key into these initiatives and turn themselves into employers of labor, wealth creators, and entrepreneurs. I, therefore, want you to take advantage of this three-day training to join those that will grow Nigeria’s economy to an enviable position in the years ahead.

I urge you to listen and learn for the duration of the training and thereafter. Use this crucial training as a launchpad that will ensure that you are able to set up small scale enterprise that can grow and expand into world brands.

No man that doesn’t have a story, the story of some of you have begun today in terms of owning your personal small scale business. That is why we are urging you to try and take the opportunities that have been brought to your doorsteps seriously. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a step.

You have already taken the bold steps already to have come and participated in this capacity building. I said this because some youth are still out there who doubt that this program is not true. They didn’t come to participate not because they are not interested but because they fail to believe in the reality of life.

It is my priority as the Minister of Youth development in this country to ensure that we empower the youth and equip you with the necessary facilities that would bring about betterment to your future.

This is one of the reasons why we have set up this program. And the first sets of youth to benefit from this program are the youth of this ancient city of Ogbomoso.

While wishing you a fruitful and successful training ahead, I wish to urge you all once again to take advantage of this important training. I know you are intelligent, I know you are innovative and hardworking, you are just waiting for this opportunity to come and the opportunity is right before you, kindly take advantage of it. It is my dream that you all would excel in the field you have chosen in this 3-days capacity building program, either in the Fishery, Piggery, or the confectionaries. I am very optimistic that some of you will start telling your stories of your journey to stardom soon.
Thank you all.

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