As Nigeria celebrates its Independence Day, President Bola Tinubu has outlined important initiatives focused on empowering the country’s youth and strengthening the economy.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, October 1, said his administration would convene a National Youth Conference to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting youths.
He made this announcement during the Independence Day broadcast.
According to him, the 30-day Confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice.
He also said the conference would provoke meaningful dialogue and empower young Nigerians, who constituted more than 60% of the population, to participate actively in nation-building.
Tinubu Addressed Confab Modalities
The President added that the modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates would be designed in close consultation with young people through their representatives.
“By ensuring that their voices are heard in shaping the policies that impact their lives, we are creating a pathway for a brighter tomorrow.
“Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations.
“The government will thoroughly consider and implement the recommendations and also the outcomes from this forum as we remain resolute in our mission to build a more inclusive, prosperous, and united Nigeria.
“Our government is implementing several other youth-centric programmes to give our young people an advantage in the rapidly changing world,” Tinubu said.
Other Youth Conference Programs
President Tinubu emphasised the administration’s efforts to empower Nigerian youths.
He also highlighted various initiatives aimed at supporting this goal.
One key programme mentioned was the 3 Million Technical Talents Program (3MTT) from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
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This initiative is designed to develop the country’s technical skills and build a strong talent backbone in Nigeria.
1. Tinubu said the government had also implemented the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which provided cheap loans to our students to pursue their tertiary educational dreams.
2. In addition, he announced that the government would launch The Renewed Hope Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) later this month.
This programme aims to facilitate the creation of 2.5 million jobs, both directly and indirectly, on an annual incremental basis.
At the same time, it will ensure the welfare and safety of workers across the country.
About 3MTT Programme
According to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the 3MTT programme is a critical part of the Renewed Hope agenda.
It aims to build Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power its digital economy and position the country as a net talent exporter.
The programme started with 30,000 Nigerians, representing 1% of the 3-million target.
With the addition of 270,000 selected for the second cohort, this brings the total to 10%.
Furthermore, to achieve the programme’s target, Tijani stated that the different phases would be executed based on a framework co-created with key stakeholders.
This include the government agencies, training providers, educational institutions, development agencies, and the private sector.
Some of the skills Nigerians are being trained on include skills that utilise technology to enhance various roles without directly involving tech creation.
These include Digital Marketing, Project Management Software, Cloud Platforms Navigation, Data Analysis and Visualisation, Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), CRM Management, Accounting Software, Graphics Design, and UX/UI Design, among several others.
