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Tag: NIYEEDEP

  • FG renames NIYEEDEP to YEIDEP to empower 20 million youths

    FG renames NIYEEDEP to YEIDEP to empower 20 million youths

    The federal government has officially renamed the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP) to Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP).

    This was disclosed in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) issued on Thursday following the signing between the Federal Government and the Nigerian Civil Society and Global Development Partners on February 5, 2025.

    The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented the Federal Government, while Comrade Kennedy Iyere, Founding President of Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), represented the Nigerian Civil Society and Global Development Partners.

    According to Comrade Olawande, the name change was necessary to give Nigerian youths a sense of ownership of the strategic economic intervention.

    He noted that the programme aims to provide economic platforms and empowerment opportunities for youths to become entrepreneurs, reduce unemployment, and contribute to national development.

    According to him, as of today, over two million youths have registered for YEIDEP, making it the largest youth economic empowerment programme in Nigeria’s history.

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    On his part, Comrade Iyere emphasised that YEIDEP is crucial for Nigeria’s economic restoration, national security, and social stability.

    He urged local and global stakeholders to support the programme, stating, “For Nigeria’s economic wellbeing, national security, and social stability, it is YEIDEP or nothing.

    “The programme’s goal is to empower 20 million youth farmers, food, and agro-allied entrepreneurs within the next two years. Youths can register for YEIDEP by visiting the website.

    “The programme is also being partnered by several banks including Fidelity Bank, Keystone Bank, Union Bank, Lotus Bank, Access Bank, UBA, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Wema Bank, Sterling Bank and JAIZ Bank to provide financial support and services to beneficiaries.”

  • Youth minister receives NIYEEDEP delegation as youth farmers enrollment commences

    Youth minister receives NIYEEDEP delegation as youth farmers enrollment commences

    Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has received a delegation from the Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP) in his office to discuss the way forward for the initiative.

    The delegation included the Coordinator-General, Comrade Kennedy Iyere; representatives from the American Grant Writers Association, Ms. Staci Smith and Mr.Marc Paley; as well as African representative for Bayern Munich Football Club, Mr. Victor Obinna Edeh. Others were Innocent Chime, CEO of Top7 Orlando and Onyeka Ogbu, a retired Director at the CBN.

    During the visit, the Minister was briefed on the progress of the NIYEEDEP and the scheduled unveiling of the youth farmers enrollment portal, which is expected to create millions of direct jobs for Nigerian youths across the agricultural value chain.

    Comrade Kennedy, the Coordinator-General, in his address, appreciated the Minister for receiving the delegation, while emphasising that the partnership with the Ministry was intended to mobilise young Nigerians to address current economic challenges facing the economy, especially high youth unemployment, food insecurity and household poverty.

    He stated that NIYEEDEP exists to empower Nigerian youths in helping to address these outlined key economic problems by creating direct jobs in key sectors such as agriculture, agro-allied industries, sports, technology, and the creative and digital economy.

    According to Comrade Iyere, the portal unveiling ceremony to drive recruitment into the innovative agricultural project will bring together diverse stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, development partners, youth organisations,diaspora stakeholders, cooperative networks, security agencies and women groups.

    The event would serve as a critical step in operationalising NIYEEDEP and transforming youth from job seekers into entrepreneurs, as creators of their own jobs, thus generating wealth and alleviating poverty.

    In response, the Minister expressed his appreciation to the delegation for coming to Nigeria to assist the government in solving the problem of unemployment faced by Nigerian youth, while commending the team for the excellent work so far.

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    He also reiterated the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards fulfilling his responsibilities to Nigerian youth, especially in areas of capacity building, youth empowerment, skills training, and job creation.

    The Minister urged the delegation to take decisive actions to ensure that Nigerian youths can see and feel tangible results from the programme ahead of its unveiling.

    The portal, which will provide Nigerian youths with the opportunity to apply for agricultural grants and other financing and technical supports, is expected to be unveiled on January 17, 2025, in Abuja.