The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, has reaffirmed its commitment to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) aimed at expanding opportunities and better positioning Nigerian youths for self-reliance, entrepreneurship and national development.

The FG also noted that through the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), 239,726 young Nigerians had acquired digital, employability and other practical skills to prepare them for the changing world of work.

The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this in Abuja, at an event to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

He said that the NiYA StartUp initiative had provided ₦1 million each to 200 young business owners and ₦500,000 each to another 200 young people operating in the informal sector.

Olawande said additional support would be provided to some young entrepreneurs on the NiYA platform through a partnership with Cascador Founders.

He said: “We are reforming the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to make the service year safer, more useful and better connected to skills, employment and the future of young graduates.

“With the first comprehensive NYSC reform since the Scheme was established 53 years ago, we are seeking to connect graduates more deliberately with career skills and support, drawing lessons from initiatives such as Singapore’s SkillsFuture and South Korea’s K-Move programme.

“What we are doing in the Federal Ministry of Youth Development is not simply about creating government programmes. These initiatives reflect our determination to ensure that young people can see the government, touch the government and feel the impact of the government in their lives.

“But youth development is not only about jobs and economic opportunities. It is also about giving young people a stronger role in building peace in our country. Just this week, the Ministry, in collaboration with our partners from France, brought together young people, government institutions, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders to review Nigeria’s Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.

“Our goal is simple, young Nigerians must not only be seen as people affected by insecurity; they must also be recognised as partners and collaborators in preventing conflict, promoting peace and building safer communities.”

Olawande said the theme reflected the shared aspirations of young Nigerians despite differences in their communities, cultures, backgrounds and educational experiences.

According to him, Nigerian youths desire opportunities to succeed, create, innovate and contribute meaningfully to national development, while seeking a peaceful and prosperous country where everyone has a chance to thrive.

He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed youth development at the centre of its Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that investment in young people was an investment in Nigeria’s future.

The minister urged young Nigerians to regularly monitor the ministry’s website and social media platforms and make use of the Nigerian Youth Help Desk to obtain information about available opportunities.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, represented by Chief Chienwedu Chukwu, reaffirmed the Scheme’s commitment to supporting initiatives that equip young Nigerians with relevant skills and prepare them for meaningful contributions to national development.

The Head of Programme, GIZ Centres for Migration and Nigerian Diaspora Matters, Sandra Vermuijten, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in creating sustainable opportunities for young people, particularly in the areas of skills development, employment and migration-related interventions.

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, commended the resilience, creativity and resourcefulness of Nigerian youths, stressing the need for sustained investment in youth development.

She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, the private sector and youth-led organisations to expand opportunities for young Nigerians and ensure that youth-focused interventions are inclusive, sustainable and responsive to emerging needs.

Speaking earlier, CDS President, Okpalaji Cheta Byron, expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and other stakeholders for providing platforms that promote youth empowerment, inclusion and participation, noting that meaningful youth engagement remains critical to Nigeria’s development.