President of the Nigerian-Turkish Business Council, Dele Kelvin Oye, has called for increased support for women and youth-led enterprises, describing them as key drivers of inclusive economic growth.

Oye, a former chairman of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), made the call in Owerri, Imo State, during the Youth and Women Day, an event organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as part of activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the agency.

While delivering the keynote address at the forum m, which brought together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, development partners, entrepreneurs, and civil society groups, Oye emphasized the need for increased partnerships among stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for Nigerian women and youth, particularly in the areas of trade, technology, and education.

He called on federal and state governments to adopt policies that promote access to capital, innovation hubs, skills acquisition, and inclusive economic frameworks that reflect the needs and aspirations of women and young people.

“As President of the Nigerian-Turkish Business Council, I want to assure you that partnerships between Nigeria and Türkiye—and other global allies are actively working to open new doors in trade, education, and investment.

“Our goal is to ensure that women and youth-led businesses benefit directly from these global linkages. We are promoting technology transfer, capacity building, and bilateral trade to empower those at the grassroots,” he said.

He underscored the need for deliberate policies that support gender inclusion and youth empowerment, noting that innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth can only be achieved when these critical demographics are prioritised.

Oye reiterated the need to expand the scope of women and youth empowerment programmes by the commission.

Oye also encouraged private sector actors, governments and other organisaions to work closely with local communities in co-creating scalable solutions that can lift millions out of poverty.