Get Guardian on GoogleA group, Youths on Ground Progressive and Mentorship Initiative, has unveiled plans to empower 600,000 Nigerian youths through agriculture, technology, mentorship and skills development by October 2027, as part of efforts to tackle unemployment and growing economic uncertainty among young people.
The Founder and National Coordinator of the initiative, Dr Obioma Nwuba, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the launch of the ‘Renewed Hope 2.0: Youths Driving the Agro-Technology Revolution’, a training programme designed to equip 120 youths across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nwuba said the ambitious target was driven by the need to restore hope among young Nigerians through practical skills, economic opportunities and mentorship, stressing that the initiative was determined to move beyond political mobilisation to tangible youth empowerment.
He said the FCT programme would train 20 participants from each of the six area councils, adding that similar interventions had already been implemented in Taraba and Niger states.
According to him, the initiative’s broader vision of reaching 600,000 youths would require strategic support and collaboration, particularly through the political platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He described the APC as a major platform for advancing the initiative’s vision, expressing confidence that supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration would help secure the backing required to achieve its nationwide empowerment target.
Nwuba, whose group is affiliated with the City Boy Movement, said the initiative was built around three core objectives: youth empowerment, mentorship and community development.
He explained that its interventions were designed to give young people direction, help them discover their potential and build the capacity to become economically productive, particularly at a time when many were struggling with the country’s economic realities.
Giving an account of previous interventions, Nwuba said the initiative had trained 160 participants in Taraba State, drawing 10 beneficiaries from each of the state’s 16 local government areas.
He said about 70 of the beneficiaries were already thriving in their respective ventures, describing the outcome as encouraging.
In Niger State, he said the initiative trained 250 youths, representing 10 participants from each of the state’s 25 local government areas, with an estimated 75 per cent success rate recorded so far.
He expressed optimism that the FCT intervention would produce even better results, projecting at least an 80 per cent success rate among the 120 participants.
“We are mentoring them and following up on their progress. We are not just training people and leaving them. We want to see them succeed and become economically independent,” he said.
Nwuba added that the initiative expected the FCT beneficiaries to demonstrate greater commitment to applying the skills acquired, while expressing confidence that the programme would provide a foundation for expanding its interventions across the country.
He said achieving the 600,000-youth target by October 2027 would require sustained engagement, mentorship and partnerships capable of translating the initiative’s vision into measurable economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
Also speaking, the special guest of honour, Princess Hadiza Ujah, stressed the importance of investing in young people through skills acquisition, mentorship and entrepreneurship, noting that empowering youths with relevant knowledge and practical skills was critical to addressing unemployment and promoting economic independence.
She emphasised the need for sustained support and collaboration among government, private sector players and development organisations to create opportunities for young people to translate their skills into viable businesses, generate income and contribute meaningfully to national development.
