Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to pursue their dreams with courage and resilience, assuring that the Federal Government would continue supporting innovative and creative endeavours. The president gave the charge on Tuesday at the unveiling of the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA GIGS) Platform and Grant Award Ceremony organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme will support 300 young Nigerians, offering grants to 200 from the formal sector and 100 from the informal sector. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu said creativity and innovation would position young Nigerians for national and global relevance in a rapidly changing world driven by digital and emerging technologies.
He emphasised that youths are central to his administration’s agenda, adding that the government would sustain efforts promoting innovation, talent development, and skills acquisition. Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to youth empowerment, stating that the government would prioritise expanding job opportunities and strengthening support across key sectors of the economy.
Tinubu highlighted extensive regulatory reforms undertaken to ease the business environment, streamline taxes, and create incentives for the digital and creative economy. He noted that the government had expanded access to consumer credit and enterprise financing to enable young entrepreneurs to build sustainable ventures.
Tinubu stressed the importance of digital skills, innovation, and enterprise, asserting that Nigeria must not leave its youths behind in global transformation. He introduced NIYA GIGS as a national platform connecting young Nigerians to paid freelance and digital service opportunities locally and globally.
Earlier, Minister of Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the initiative was designed to recognise and harness youth brilliance across the formal and informal sectors. He stated that over 200 youth-led start-ups would receive N1 million each, while 100 informal sector beneficiaries would receive N500,000 each.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, remarked that the launch marked a major milestone in the nation’s commitment to youth-driven development. He added that the initiatives were created to stimulate entrepreneurship, strengthen digital and vocational skills, and deepen the creativity and resilience that define Nigerians.