President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has launched a programme to create at minimum 3.7 millions jobs for youths annually.
The government expressed hope that with the launch of the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP), unemployment among youths would be reduced drastically.
Tracknews Online reports that the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the launch is part of President Buhari’s commitment to mobilize the energies and capacities of the youth to minimise the risks to national security posed by rising unemployment.
Dare stressed further that NIYEAP is another scheme by the government to continue to facilitate an enabling environment that will create about 3.7 million jobs annually.
The minister said the youths should be regarded as a viable investment to yield positive benefits for all spheres of our socio-economic progress, rather than a group targeted for periodic empowerment interventions.
Dare noted: “It is important to state that the economic and social consequences of youth unemployment transcend the youth group. It has also resulted in missed economic opportunities for the nation.
“This is because youth inclusion is about skilled human capital, social and economic stability, a vibrant and healthy labour force, which will also engender political stability and national growth and development”, the minister added.
According to Dare, the ministry under which he serves has concentrated efforts on moving youth development interventions from the empowerment model to a sustainable system since he assumed office.
He added that the action plan emphasizes the 4Es: Employability, Entrepreneurship Development, Employment Creation and Equality and Rights.
The 4Es are further delineated into strategic lines of action under each theme, with emphasis on sectors that have high job creation potential.
They include Digital Economy, Rural Economy, Green Economy and Renewable energy sector, Manufacturing, Tourism, Construction and Services.
