The federal government has urged youths in the country to embrace financial literacy skills needed to become successful wealth creators and self-reliant.
To achieve this, the government pledged to equip and empower young Nigerians with the knowledge and right skills to succeed and thrive.
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, said this on Tuesday in Abuja during the official launch of the national financial literacy investment and wealth creation training programme with the theme: “Empowering a Generation of Smart, Skilled, Wealth-Ready Nigerian Youth.”
Olawande, who attributed “japa syndrome” and unemployment plaguing the country to lack of skills among the youth, reaffirmed the commitment of the ministry to the guiding philosophy of “One Youth, Two Skills”, a vision, he noted, would ensure every young Nigerian is equipped with multiple competencies to compete in a dynamic global economy.
The minister noted that it was in a bid to build platforms that strengthen capacity, broaden opportunities, and secure the future of young Nigerians that the ministry was partnering with Investonaire Academy to launch the Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Programme, an initiative designed to train at least 100,000 youths annually in financial literacy, forex, and commodity trading.
He said the programme expands economic opportunities and opens new pathways to sustainable prosperity for every participating young person.
The minister said, “Today marks a defining moment in our collective journey towards a future of prosperity, purpose, and limitless possibilities. A productive and prosperous nation is only possible with empowered people, especially its youth.
“Nigeria has a large population of vibrant young people, and ensuring that our youth are equipped and empowered with the knowledge and skills to succeed and thrive is one of the cardinal goals of the present administration.”
Olawande noted that the training programme is completely free, describing it as a deliberate investment in the youth, their dreams, future, and their capacity to be able to transform Nigeria.
He said, “I encourage every young Nigerian to use this wonderful opportunity to learn, to trade, and to build a better life. Your potential is immense, and with the right knowledge, it becomes unstoppable.
“The Ministry is fully committed to providing all the necessary support to ensure that the knowledge you acquire is put to great use, for meaningful impact, empowered communities, and financial prosperity for you and your families.”
The minister also spoke on the ongoing transformation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), disclosing that before the end of the year, more than 200 National Youth Service Corps members who have undergone various forms of training would be empowered with start-up materials and resources for them to become employers of labour and wealth creators instead of looking for white collar jobs that are non-existent.
He said, “The minority of those who want to look for government jobs can do so, but we want to build a nation of young people that will think, innovate, and also be employers of labour in the job market.
“I want a section of over 4000 corps members in a year to come out and have something to do, and we are ready, fully ready, to support them. The Financial Literacy Skills Programme we have launched today is designed to give millions of Nigerian youth a turning point. Financial literacy is not just an advantage; it is a skill for survival.”
Also speaking, International Programme Director, Investonaire Academy, Dr Enefola Odiba, disclosed that more than 80,000 have already registered on the platform before the Tuesday official launch of the training programme.
He noted that the Academy provides a digital platform that allows future and existing traders to hone skills, deepen knowledge in forex and commodity trading, all done from the comfort of the learner’s location, across all devices.