The Federal Government has urged the private sector, donor agencies, and civil society organisations (CSOs) to make sustained investments in youth-led innovations.
The government said this is a critical pathway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while building a better future beyond 2030.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, spoke during the commemoration of this year’s International Youth Day Youth Innovation Funfair with the theme: Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.
He urged partners to support promising youth initiatives with funding, mentorship, and access to markets.
The minister noted that young people are not merely beneficiaries of the SDGs, but co-creators of solutions that can transform Nigeria and the world.
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Olawanle added: “Your innovation is the bridge between today’s Nigeria and the Nigeria we dream for future generations.”
The minister noted that with over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 25, the country’s greatest asset is its youthful population, whose creativity and energy are already driving change in agriculture, health, education, renewable energy, and digital technology.
According to him, young innovators face significant barriers, particularly limited access to finance and market opportunities.
He added: “The Youth Innovation Funfair, organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, was designed to bridge these gaps by connecting youth innovators with investors, partners, and mentors.”
Olawande pledged the ministry’s commitment to improving policies for youth entrepreneurship, expanding access to finance, creating opportunities for global exposure, and ensuring youth voices are central in decision-making at all levels.