Abuja, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed that empowering Nigeria’s youth remains a “deeply personal” priority of his administration. Speaking at the launch of the second edition of the Nigeria Youth Academy (NiYA) Startup Grants and the unveiling of the NiYA Gig digital-work platform in Abuja, Tinubu emphasized that young Nigerians are central to the nation’s future.

Youth at the Center of National Development

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the president said the government’s focus on youth is not merely political but a personal commitment. “From the earliest days of this administration, I made a firm decision that Nigeria’s youth will not stand on the margins of our national development,” Tinubu said.

The president outlined ongoing reforms designed to expand opportunities for youth-led businesses. These include easing tax compliance for small enterprises, providing incentives for the digital and creative economy, and building a pipeline of global-ready talent through initiatives such as NiYA Academy, NiYA Startup, NiYA Jobs, and the newly launched NiYA Gigs.

Expanding Reach and Opportunities

Commending the Ministry of Youth Development for scaling the programme, Tinubu noted that the first edition of NiYA Startup Grants drew over 14,000 applications nationwide. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the new grants as “not loans, but fuel for your journey,” announcing N1 million grants for 200 youth-led startups and N500,000 grants for 100 beneficiaries in the informal sector.

Olawande also highlighted the NiYA Gig platform, designed to connect young Nigerians with paid digital opportunities both locally and internationally. He cited the success of initiatives like the Nigerian Youth Help Desk and the AI-powered WhatsApp Chatbot, which has engaged more than one million young people.

Preparing Nigeria’s Youth for Global Competition

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, underscored the importance of equipping young Nigerians for global competitiveness. “Nigeria’s youth are our demographic advantage. With proper preparation, young Africans will make up 25 per cent of the world’s workforce by 2050,” he said. Edun highlighted investments in digital infrastructure, skills training, and innovation as key strategies to enable youth to export services without leaving the country.

Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite Udoka, added that financial-sector reforms would expand access to credit, increase concessional loans, enhance tax incentives, and improve digital infrastructure for youth-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “These initiatives are deliberately designed to stimulate entrepreneurship and deepen the creativity that defines the Nigerian spirit,” she said.

Digital Talent as a National Asset

Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described Nigeria’s digitally fluent young population as a “major national asset.” He noted that more than 70 per cent of the country’s 230 million citizens are under 18.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, stressed that achieving President Tinubu’s goal of a $1 trillion economy relies on unlocking the full potential of Nigerian youth. She highlighted reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), designed to transform the scheme into a launchpad for future-focused careers.

Looking Forward

Analysts say that these initiatives could reshape Nigeria’s digital economy and strengthen youth participation in national development. By combining financial support, digital platforms, and skills development, the administration aims to position Nigeria’s youth as global leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship.