The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and The Guardian Newspapers, on Tuesday, deepened collaboration to promote youth development, value reorientation, and national renewal.
Olawande also reaffirmed his ministry’s determination to rebuild young Nigerians’ trust in government through strategic empowerment programmes, skills acquisition, and collaborative engagement with critical stakeholders, including the media.
The minister disclosed this while receiving the General Manager, Abuja-Northern Operations of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Chuks Nwanne, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
Olawande commended The Guardian for its longstanding tradition of balanced journalism and nation-building advocacy, and said his focus as minister is to “empower, support, and protect” young Nigerians in ways that foster productivity, integrity, and patriotism.
He noted that the ministry, under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is introducing several youth-focused initiatives to promote skill acquisition in areas such as technology, photography, creative arts, and automation, to make Nigerian youths self-reliant rather than dependent on white-collar jobs.
Olawande said, “I do not believe in tokenism as empowerment. Giving handouts cannot change lives. Real empowerment comes from building human capacity and enabling young people to discover their productive potential.
“The empowerment we talk about is about building human capacity. Once you empower young people productively, you will get results.”
Olawande, who spoke passionately about his own life experiences, said he understands the struggles of many Nigerian youths and is committed to ensuring that government programmes truly reach them.
He added, “I don’t blame young people for losing trust in the government. For years, they have felt abandoned. But now, we are changing that narrative. This ministry is not a retirement home; it is a platform for transformation.
“Nigeria’s youth are the most vibrant in the world, in tech, sports, agriculture, entertainment, and creativity. All we need is to guide their energy in the right direction.”
Olawande emphasised that the Tinubu administration views the youth sector as pivotal to Nigeria’s future and will continue to invest in policies and partnerships that create opportunities for millions of young people across the country.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Chuks Nwanne commended the minister’s vision and energy in rebranding the Ministry of Youth Development into a forward-looking institution that connects directly with young Nigerians.
He said The Guardian was ready to collaborate with the ministry to communicate its programmes effectively and rekindle hope among Nigerian youths.
Nwanne said: “We’ve followed the ministry’s projects and found them well thought-out and people-focused. One of our greatest challenges as a nation is restoring the confidence of young Nigerians in their country. This is where strategic communication and public engagement are crucial.”
He noted that The Guardian has, for decades, been at the forefront of youth advocacy through initiatives such as “Young & Nigerian”, “Up and Doing”, and other platforms that spotlight emerging talents across different sectors.
He added, “We believe that if you promote young achievers and project positive narratives, more youths will be inspired to believe in themselves and in Nigeria.”
