By Muhyideen Jimoh
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to pursue their dreams with courage and resilience, assuring that the Federal Government would continue supporting innovative and creative endeavours.
The president gave the charge on Tuesday at the unveiling of the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA GIGS) Platform and Grant Award Ceremony organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
The programme will support 300 young Nigerians, offering grants to 200 from the formal sector and 100 from the informal sector.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu said creativity and innovation would position young Nigerians for national and global relevance in a rapidly changing world driven by digital and emerging technologies
He said youths remained central to his administration’s agenda, adding that government would sustain efforts promoting innovation, talent development and skills acquisition.
The president said, “Build boldly, innovate courageously, scale fearlessly. You are the generation that will continue the task of building this nation.”
Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to youths empowerment, stating that government would prioritise expanding job opportunities and strengthening support across key sectors of the economy.
“From the early days of this administration, I made a firm decision; the Nigerian youth will not stand on the margins of our national development,” he said.
Tinubu said extensive regulatory reforms had been undertaken to ease the business environment, streamline taxes and create incentives for the digital and creative economy.
He added that government had expanded access to consumer credit and enterprise financing to enable young entrepreneurs build sustainable ventures.
“All these interventions aim to build an economy where the ambition of a young Nigerian is never limited by bureaucracy or lack of opportunity,” he said.
Tinubu emphasised the importance of digital skills, innovation and enterprise, stressing that Nigeria must not leave its youths behind in global transformation.
“With NIYA GIGS, we are introducing a national platform connecting young Nigerians to paid freelance and digital service opportunities locally and globally,” he said.
Tinubu added that NIYA Academy, NIYA Startup, NIYA Gigs and NIYA Jobs would link skills to markets and ideas to capital, creating pathways to prosperity.
Earlier, Minister of Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative was designed to recognise and harness youth brilliance across the formal and informal sectors.
He said over 200 youths-led start-ups would receive N1million each, while 100 informal sector beneficiaries would receive N500,000 each.
Olawande said the platform would position Nigerian youths to compete globally, earn income and build sustainable livelihoods.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the launch marked a major milestone in the nation’s commitment to youth-driven development.
He said the initiatives were created to stimulate entrepreneurship, strengthen digital and vocational skills and deepen the creativity and resilience that define Nigerians.
Members of the Federal Executive Council and senior government officials attended the launch.(NAN