The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank to empower young Nigerians with financial and informational support.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, shared this initiative during the Stakeholders Roundtable on Northern Youth Development, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja on Tuesday, November 19.
Describing these banks as vital tools for youth empowerment, President Tinubu highlighted their role in fostering opportunities and driving economic growth.
He noted that his administration has implemented a comprehensive youth development strategy targeting multiple sectors to advance Nigeria’s economic transformation since assuming office.
The President also paid tribute to the late Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and former Premier of Northern Nigeria, acknowledging his enduring legacy and dedication to unity and development.
“The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was one of the towering giants on whose shoulders we have ascended as a nation.
”His vision was clear: the North cannot progress in isolation, and Nigeria cannot prosper unless every part of this nation thrives,” he said.
President Tinubu emphasized that the progress and development of Northern Nigeria are essential for the overall prosperity and stability of the nation.
“Whatever disrupts the growth of one region sets back the entire nation,” he said.
“For far too long, we have been taunted as a nation with the most children out of school—a reality that should not elicit pride but provoke urgent action.
“This alarming statistic has turned the promise of our population into a challenge rather than the dividend it ought to be,” he added.
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s groundbreaking youth empowerment initiatives, highlighting programs such as the Three Million Technical Talent, 3MTT, scheme and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters, aimed at fostering skills development and entrepreneurship among young Nigerians.
“Our creative and digital economy is another goldmine,” the President said, outlining programmes such as the Skill-Up Artisans Programme, SUPA, Nigerian Youth Academy, NIYA, and the National Youth Talent Export Programme, NATEP.
Tinubu outlined additional youth-focused initiatives, including the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, to improve access to higher education and the Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises, iDICE, program aimed at fostering digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
He also highlighted the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative, OTNI, designed to integrate Nigerian youth into global markets, the Youth Enterprise Clusters for business growth, and the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme to tackle housing challenges.
In agriculture, Tinubu emphasized plans to boost investments and industrialization, aiming to solidify Northern Nigeria’s status as the country’s leading agricultural hub.
On security, the President detailed strategies to address instability in the region, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to restoring peace and ensuring a conducive environment for development.
”The measures include strengthening community policing, rehabilitating displaced persons, and addressing cross-border challenges like smuggling and insurgency.”
He emphasized the urgency of the moment, saying “By 2050, Nigeria will become the third-largest nation globally, with three-quarters of our citizens under the age of 21.
“Our challenge here is to engineer a transition towards a federation defined by order, stability, and safety,” he added, noting that the task is both urgent and achievable.
The President issued a direct challenge to youths, saying, “You are not just the future of this nation—you are its present.
”Your energy, ideas, and determination are already shaping our policies and programmes.
“Our commitment is to provide you with the skill set and opportunities to thrive in a competitive world”.
President Tinubu pledged his administration’s commitment to harnessing the talents and energy of Nigerian youth, transforming their aspirations into a driving force that will reshape the nation into a beacon of democracy, innovation, and sustainable growth.
Echoing this vision, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, underscored the pivotal importance of youth education as a cornerstone for national progress and development.
“Our youths are the foundation of any development we envisage in our society. They are not just leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today,” he said.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, stressed the need for ongoing engagement with young people, advocating for regular forums to facilitate meaningful dialogue with youth across the northern states.
He underscored the vital role of education, describing it as the most enduring legacy any leader can bequeath to society.
“Without education, you are a nobody. I believe in infrastructural development like roads and bridges but more money should be spent educating our children.
“That is why we need to dwell more on how we can ensure that our children are educated.”
Earlier, Muazu Babangida, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, highlighted that the gathering also celebrated the foundation’s 15th-anniversary milestone.
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