The Federal Government has called for collaboration to address youth challenges.
The government said the issue of advancing youth development is a multi-faceted phenomenon that requires a multi-sectoral approach, saying no one agency or organ of government can adequately address youth issues and challenges.
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare said this at the maiden International Youth Work Week Convention of Nigeria Youth Workers’ Association and Capacity Building Workshop held in Abuja.
In a statement by the Director (Press and Public Relations) of the ministry, Mohammed Manga, the Minister said all hands must be on the deck in tackling these challenges.
The Minister noted that the present administration had initiated and implemented various programmes and projects to curtail youth unemployment by engaging them in meaningful and productive ventures that led to socio-economic growth and development.
He said the National Youth Policy (NYP) and Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP), as well as the National Youth Employment Template, were all developed by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD) to respond to youth employment in Nigeria.
Last year, he said, the Federal Government, through the efforts of the ministry, approved N75 billion Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) for young entrepreneurs to have access to loans at minimal interest in order to establish and improve their businesses.
He called on all stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to come up with unique ways and strategies that would facilitate the professionalisation of youth development work in Nigeria, with a view to aiding in tackling the challenges facing our young people in order for us to secure a sustainable future.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismaila Abubakar said the ministry identifies with the youth in this whole cause aimed at placing Nigeria on the league of the comity of nations that have professionalised youth work in the country for better service delivery.
According to him, many African countries have well-established youth workers associations that have taken youth development work a step further for the betterment of their youth, adding that Nigeria is not left out.
President, National Youth Workers’ Association, Mr Ben Duntoye commended the President Buhari-led administration for its youth-friendly initiatives that aimed at the development of the youth.