As part of activities marking the June 12 Democracy Day celebration, hundreds of youths embarked on a peaceful rally in Abuja, expressing support for the continued entrenchment of democratic governance in Nigeria.
Led by the President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Solomon Adodo, the group converged at the Unity Fountain before marching to the Eagles Square in a show of solidarity for President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.
Adodo and his group commended the economic and fiscal reforms implemented by the Tinubu administration, describing them as transformative initiatives that have rekindled hope for a better Nigeria. According to the group, President Tinubu has demonstrated inclusive and intentional leadership, focused on uplifting citizens and uniting the country.
The group also praised the cordial working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, particularly acknowledging the role of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in fostering harmony and stability within the polity.
They expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Armed Forces for their tireless efforts in safeguarding the nation’s peace and security.
Highlighting several youth-targeted programs initiated by the Tinubu-led administration, the group cited the establishment of federal training centers offering skills in digital technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries, with startup grants for successful participants.
They pointed to the iDICE Fund, a $617.7 million investment vehicle driving youth-led tech and creative startups across the nation, and the 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT) initiative aimed at closing the digital skills gap.
Further referencing President Tinubu’s pledge to train 3 million Nigerian youths in IT and vocational trades, the group noted partnerships with organizations like UNICEF to skill 20 million young people by 2030 under a “learning-to-earning” framework.
They also mentioned the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), which provides ₦110 billion in grants and loans for youth-led SMEs, as well as the Presidential Enterprise Clusters, which provide targeted support to small businesses.
Other commendable initiatives highlighted include the Presidential Conditional Grants Scheme, which offers ₦50,000 non-repayable grants to 1 million micro-entrepreneurs—70% of whom are youths and women—and the Skill-Up Artisan Super Programme, which offers certification and skills enhancement for 100,000 young artisans.
They also referenced the recently signed Forex and Trading Academy MoU, designed to train 100,000 youths annually in forex trading, risk management, and financial planning.
In the education sector, they lauded efforts under the NELFUND Expansion, aimed at increasing access to higher education through low-interest student loans.
The group urged continued support for the administration’s youth-focused initiatives and called on Nigerian youths to embrace the opportunities being provided to contribute meaningfully to national development.
