Olawande Seeks EU Support For Capacity Building, Skill Development

The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has called on the European Union (EU) to support the federal government’s skills development and capacity building programmes.

Ayodele Olawande, made the call on Tuesday, during a meeting with the European Union delegation, led by Ambassador-Designate, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, who were in the ministry to discuss partnership on various programs and initiatives of the Ministry.

Olawande commended the European Union’s significant contributions to youth development in Nigeria.

He said President Bola Tinubu was committed “to empowering young people, promoting self-reliance among the youth, and also bridging the gap between young people and the government“.

Olawande also sought EU support for various initiatives and programs of the Ministry, including the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), a training and skill building platform; the Youth Helpdesk, and other youth-focused initiatives of the President’s administration.

The Minister stressed the importance of youth leadership and governance programmes to empower young people to participate actively in decision-making processes.

He also called for the “review and effective implementation of the National Youth Policy to address the specific needs and aspirations of Nigerian youths“.

While speaking, the Ambassador-Designate, Mr. Gautier Mignot, expressed interest in supporting the various initiatives and programs of the Ministry, assuring that the EU would continue to “avail the Nigerian government of support in all areas that align with its priorities“.