Empowerment Of Youth, Eradication Of Poverty – Dalung

By Abisola Ariwodola

Youth Empowerment have been described as a tool that ensure national development, alongside multiplier effect in the economic growth of our nation.

The Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth an Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Selcap Dalung, made this known at the closing ceremony of National Youth Empowerment Program held at the National Youth Development Centre, Ode-Omu, Osun state.

According to the Honorable Minister represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Stephen Adekunle Oduyebo, an empowered youth with a sustainable means of livelihood will not only create jobs, but will also contribute to the peace and security of the nation.

The Minister hinged that when youth are positively engaged, there will be reduction in incidences of crime and delinquency which are factors inimical to national development efforts, due to the fact that the innovation, creativity and energy of the youth are factors that any nation cannot afford to set aside.

He also affirmed that the Federal Ministry laid out ways to promote youth participation in nation building, by creating an enabling environment for them to reach their full potentials since unemployment remains a daunting challenge to youth development efforts, with unemployment rate as high as 42% and majority of its holders are youth without sustainable means of livelihood.

The Minister stated that the youths who were trained in Skills training and Entrepreneurship Development will be given start up grants, and will be closely monitored by officials of the Ministry periodically to provide guidance and supervision and ensure strict compliance in line with the objective of the programme.

The youths from various states of the federation were trained in Crop Production, Livestock, Fishery Aquatic Farming, Leather Works, Make-up, Bead Making, Confectioneries and Event Management.

Earlier in her welcome address and report of summary of activities, the Programme Coordinator, Director Enterprise Development and Promotion, Hajia Juweratu Olomoko, stated that the training in eight trades across agriculture and vocational skills held in the fifth of the six centres in the country.

She also stated that eradication of extreme poverty and hunger is essential for the federal government, hence the empowerment program by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, geared towards reduction in unemployment and poverty among young people, particularly through entrepreneurship training.