Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling youth unemployment, poverty and radicalisation through the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), describing the initiative as a pathway to economic empowerment and national prosperity.
Speaking on Tuesday at the flag-off of the YEIDEP recruitment drive at the International Conference centre, Enugu, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Director of Education and Youth Development in the ministry, Desmond Kwan, said the programme was designed to transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a productive workforce capable of driving economic growth, food security and national development.
Kwan said the ministry fully identified with the programme and was committed to supporting its implementation across the country.
“It gives me pleasure to join the government and people of Enugu State for the flag-off of the recruitment drive for the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme. The programme represents a bold national response to one of the most critical questions of our time: How do we transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a productive workforce for economic growth, food security, peace and national prosperity?” he asked.
According to him, the answer lies in moving young people from vulnerability to productivity, from unemployment to enterprise, and from despair to opportunity.
He explained that YEIDEP was more than a registration exercise, describing it as a national ecosystem connecting young Nigerians to opportunities, skills acquisition, financing, mentorship, markets and productive engagement within the agricultural sector.
“It is designed to ensure that every young person who is willing to work has a pathway to economic empowerment,” he said.
The minister’s representative stressed the importance of registration, noting that accurate data was essential for effective empowerment programmes.
“Registration drives data, and data drives development. We cannot empower those we cannot identify,” he stated.
He noted that many previous empowerment programmes failed to achieve desired outcomes partly because beneficiaries could not be properly tracked and monitored.
Kwan urged eligible youths in Enugu State to register for the programme to access training opportunities, financing, cooperative structures, technology and employment prospects.
Highlighting opportunities within the agricultural value chain, he said modern agriculture now extends beyond traditional farming to include precision agriculture using drones and satellite technology, agri-data analytics, smart irrigation systems, digital advisory services, food processing, packaging, commodity trading and export services.
“The future farmer is not merely a crop cultivator or animal rearer. The future farmer is a technology entrepreneur, a data analyst, an innovator and a business owner,” he said.
He further called on financial institutions, agribusiness firms, technology companies and cooperatives to partner government in ensuring the programme’s success.
“When private capital meets youthful energy, innovation flourishes. When government creates an enabling environment and the private sector provides investment, opportunities expand and young people flourish,” he said.
Iyere
Speaking, the Coordinator-General of YEIDEP Comrade Kennedy Iyere said the initiative was established by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to address youth unemployment, poverty and radicalisation across the country.
He explained that Nigerian youths between the ages of 18 and 35 are eligible to participate and can begin registration through designated partner banks.
“You don’t need to know anybody in government or occupy any special position. Simply visit any of the authorised financial institutions and open a YEDEP account,” he said.
The coordinator-general listed participating financial institutions to include UBA, Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and other partner banks.
Iyere described the programme as an economic emancipation initiative aimed at creating social cohesion and expanding economic opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.
He assured participants that funding would be available through government support, development partners and private-sector collaborations.
According to him, beneficiaries would be organised into cooperative groups and small business networks to ensure accountability, sustainability and effective utilisation of funds.
“Once funding is approved, beneficiaries will be integrated into cooperative structures, with groups of five persons forming small and medium-scale enterprises. This will ensure proper utilisation of resources and long-term sustainability,” he said.
He cited examples from China and India, which successfully lifted millions of people out of poverty through coordinated economic empowerment programmes.
Iyere maintained that Nigerian youths are hardworking and capable of driving economic transformation if given the necessary support and opportunities.
The YEIDEP recruitment drive is expected to continue across states of the federation as part of efforts to create employment opportunities, boost agricultural productivity and strengthen youth participation in national development.
