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The federal government has called on the stakeholders at all levels to engage in latforms that will enhance the lives of the younger generation of the country.
The call was made by the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande during a conference commemorating the United Nations at 79 in Abuja.
The minister said Nigeria is one of the most youthful nations globally with about 70 percent of its population under the age of 35, who are ready to develop in different aspects of life.
Despite challenges facing the economy of the country, Comrade Olawande said the government in collaboration with the United Nations, along with other development partners, are working to unlock funding and providing ways in fostering innovations among the younger generation.
The minister also said, “The youth must have access to quality education and sustainable employment opportunities. The youth pact of the future represents a strategic framework to support our youth in realising these aspirations. Through this pact, we pledge to foster a Nigeria that prioritises youths engagements and empowerment.
“Education remains the foundation of any great society. To prepare our young people for the future, we’re committed to enhance both formal and vocational education systems to address current gaps and future needs,” Olawande said.
The Minister of State also highlighted the need for the youth to receive relevant training in digital skills, critical thinking, entrepreneur abilities among others, adding that they are working to close the gap between education and employment through encouraging collaboration between academic institutions and industries.
While speaking at the event, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Mohamed M. Malick Fall, commended the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating more than thirty entities of the United Nations to operate in Nigeria, while assuring of the desire to continue to support the citizens of the country to achieve the aspiration of standing out as the giant of Africa.
He also restated the commitment of the UN to aid the country in its effort to provide quality education, abolish hunger and counter climate, diseases among others.
“In your effort to unleash the talent of these young people to enable them to express themselves both here and globally, you can also count on the United Nations,” Fall said.
The resident coordinator also pointed out that the UN is ready to work tirelessly with Nigeria in order to achieve its sustainable goals by 2030, by transforming the society against all forms of unfairness.
