By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration with state and local governments to ensure effective implementation of youth development policies and programmes across Nigeria.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made the call when the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Prince Niaphen, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja to discuss areas of collaboration and strategies for strengthening youth initiatives.
Olawande, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, said the success of federal youth development programmes depended largely on the support and cooperation of sub-national governments.
He stressed the need for government initiatives to reach young people at the grassroots, noting that programmes implemented at the national level would have limited impact without alignment and support from states.
“You cannot work at the Federal Ministry without having the sub-nationals support you. If you are doing anything at the national level and the State does not align with it, it will go nowhere,” he said.
The Minister also commended Niaphen for his leadership and commitment to mentorship, describing him as a leader who invests in grooming others to take up positions of responsibility.
Olawande said the Federal Ministry of Youth Development remained the appropriate constituency for stakeholders working to advance the interests and wellbeing of Nigerian youths, urging state commissioners and other stakeholders to deepen their partnership with the ministry.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with state and local governments to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to thrive.
The Minister described Nigerian youths as creative, innovative and resilient, stressing that sustained cooperation among the different levels of government was essential to unlocking their potential and contributing to the country’s development.
In his remarks, Niaphen appreciated the Minister for the reception and expressed the readiness of the Plateau State Government to strengthen its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
He said the state remained committed to supporting youth-focused programmes aimed at empowering young people, developing their skills and creating opportunities for them to contribute to the development of Plateau State and Nigeria.
