By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and skills development, while promoting a safer and more inclusive digital environment.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made this known at the Meta Youth Online Safety Summit held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Olawande said youth development remains a key priority of the Federal Government, stressing that sustainable empowerment programmes are critical to unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s youthful population.
According to him, the Ministry is focused on creating opportunities that equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to become productive contributors to national development.
He noted that strategic investments in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation continue to provide important pathways for youth empowerment and economic growth.
The Minister commended Meta and other development partners for their continued collaboration with the government in advancing youth-focused digital initiatives across the country. He acknowledged the transformative impact of digital platforms in helping young people access opportunities, acquire knowledge, build businesses, and participate actively in the digital economy.
“Many young people today rely on digital platforms for education, business, communication, and innovation. We commend Meta for providing platforms and services that have positively impacted the lives of millions of Nigerian youths,” he said.
Olawande emphasized that online safety is a shared responsibility that begins at home, noting that parents remain the first teachers and role models in shaping responsible digital behaviour among children and young people.
He explained that government interventions and digital literacy programmes are designed to complement parental guidance, ensuring young people can safely navigate the digital space while maximizing its opportunities.
The Minister further highlighted the Federal Government’s collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Meta, and other stakeholders to strengthen youth empowerment through digital skills development and innovation-driven programmes.
He disclosed that ongoing reforms are aimed at repositioning the NYSC scheme to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance, encouraging corps members to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Olawande also noted that the Nigeria Youth Academy was established to equip young Nigerians with the digital competencies required to thrive in the rapidly evolving global economy.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with Meta and other stakeholders to build a digitally empowered generation of Nigerian youths.
In her remarks, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Ms. Sade Dada, said the participation of government representatives, industry leaders, civil society organizations, and educators at the summit reflected the company’s belief that effective solutions to online safety challenges can only emerge through collective action and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
She observed that young people are growing up in a digital environment unlike any previous generation, making conversations around online safety, digital wellbeing, and responsible online engagement increasingly important.
According to Dada, Nigerian youths face many of the same digital realities and challenges as their peers globally, underscoring the need for proactive measures to protect and empower them online.
The summit served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to enhancing online safety while promoting the positive use of digital technologies among young people.
