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NYP Will Enhance Development Of Nigerian Youth If……. FG

Published

7 years ago

January 24, 2020

Joel Ajayi

Federal Government has reiterated that, if National Youth Policy (NYP) is fully implemented in the country, it would no doubt provide leadership and enhancing youth development and participation in the context of sustainable development as well as increase the number of young people engaged in productive work.

Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Sunday Dare revealed this on Thursday in Abuja, at the one-day roundtable and the 2nd consultative meeting on the development of the strategic plan for implementation of the revised National Youth Policy from 2019-2023.

NYP which aims to develop Nigerian youth with equal opportunities to realize their dreams and aspirations, irrespective of environment that would and living in a safe and secure environment that would optimize their contribution to National Development.

Mr. Dare who was represented by Permanent Secretary to the Ministry Mr. Gabriel Aduda said that no country in the world will develop without the development of her youth.

According to him, it is on record that well over 31 countries out of 54 African countries have planned their National Youth Policies but it may be simple enough to create policies and programs that we often do but the strength of this creations lies in the effective implementation of these policies when they are put in place.

“We are, therefore, particularly happy to see the representation across the board especially the various states that are here because we really want a policy that will benefit all Nigerians.

“We also hope that youth leaders can bring the need perspectives and skills of problem-solving especially using new technology, as you know the world has gone digital whether we like it or not, the best we can do is to catch up and see how we can fit into the process. So, I expect that in your deliberations plead as much as possible and let us pay attention to what matters this point in time.

“We need to put such perspective in line for we are dealing with new national policies for the development of the most important cache of the Nigerian population.

“Youth mainstreaming is very important via innovation, multi-sectoral approaches, and holistic approaches so much so that we want to enjoy this entire gathering to carefully capture and evaluate cutting issues that need to be considered the national youth policies compressively enhance the development of this document.”

He enjoined to speak their mind and not hold back anything in the anyway full implementation of policy for all Nigerian youth.

On her own, representative of the UNFPA Dr. Zubaida Abubarkar said applauded the ministry for the formalization of the consultative forum saying that it’s not about implementation alone its about proper monitoring for the plan to work.

She urged the forum to use the power of millions of Nigerians youth to disseminate the policy while she asked them to carry people living with disabilities along.

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Alake Inaugurates Nigeria-US Solid Minerals Committee, Dismisses $700bn Claim, Says No Assets Sold

Published

5 days ago

October 28, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Tuesday inaugurated the Nigeria-United States Committee on Strategic Cooperation in the Solid Minerals Sector in Abuja, dismissing reports that Nigeria sold $700 billion worth of solid minerals to the US.

The inauguration followed the strategic cooperation framework established between Nigeria and the United States during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Head PRESS and Public Relations Department Mrs. Kania Maliki Andeyaba stated that, Alake in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed with the US is a government-to-government platform to facilitate business-to-business engagements between American investors and Nigerian local operators, not a sale of assets.

Harping on the importance of the solid minerals sector to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, he noted that the administration was committed to reducing dependence on a mono-product economy through the sustainable development of Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.

According to him, the Nigeria–US partnership as a strategic initiative to attract investment, promote technology transfer, strengthen local mineral processing and create employment opportunities.

“There is no sale of any Nigerian asset. There’s nothing exchanging hands,” Alake declared.

“We created a platform to facilitate mingling of US investment ventures with Nigeria’s local operators. It is in the public domain. We signed it in public and published it in four or five national newspapers.”

The Minister said reports claiming the US was coming to take over Nigeria’s minerals and security architecture were untrue at best and products of riotous imagination at worst.

Explaining the policy thrust, Alake said Africa has historically held the short end of the stick in global economic transactions, and Nigeria is determined to change that model.

“We have the resources, the critical elements the world needs to transit to clean energy. So we are creating a new paradigm — you bring your capital, expertise and technology, to match with our natural resources and create a win-win situation . The investor gains, Nigeria gains.’’he said.

Nigeria, he stressed, had operated a mono-cultural economy dependent on oil, while solid minerals were exploited informally — with ores taken “from pit to port” without value addition.

Alake said government has now made local processing mandatory, refusing to grant mineral titles to investors without a clear pathway to processing in Nigeria.

He said the policy led to the springing up of processing factories, including the largest lithium processing plant in West Africa commissioned recently in Nasarawa by the Vice President, and informed the formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group.

Alake noted that investor confidence has returned due to macro-economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu that guarantee security of tenure and repatriation of profits.

He charged the committee to discharge its assignment responsibly, saying its work is strategic to achieving the President’s $1 trillion economy target.

To this end, he told the Committee to ensure effective coordination, identify investment opportunities and translate the framework into measurable outcomes capable of positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global solid minerals industry.

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, said the inauguration translates growing bilateral engagements into a structured framework for practical cooperation and investment mobilization

Economic Officer at the US Embassy, Jonathan Baas, said President Donald Trump has prioritized three areas for US embassies — energy, artificial intelligence/super intelligence, and critical minerals.

Baas said Washington’s direction is to work with partners to secure critical supply chains while ensuring partners capture value.

“We just signed a contract today on looking into building AI data centres in Nigeria at the Nigerian Economic Summit. That’s the direction Washington wants us to go,” he said.

In his vote of thanks, CEO/Managing Director of Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, NSMC said that the committee

is expected to coordinate implementation, facilitate investment and monitor progress towards achieving the objectives of the Nigeria–US cooperation framework.

The inauguration reinforces the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning the solid minerals sector as a key driver of economic diversification, industrial development and national prosperity under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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