The Federal Government is set to revitalise youth development centres nationwide to address Nigeria’s growing skills gap, the Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, has announced.
Speaking in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Africa Projects Development Centre (APDC), Olawande said the initiative will reposition existing centres as modern training hubs offering vocational, technical, digital, and entrepreneurial skills.
“This MoU will help us achieve a long-awaited revitalisation of our youth development centres nationwide. Closing the skills gap is critical to economic growth and national development,” the minister stated. He added that the ministry’s guiding principle of “One youth, two skills” ensures that every participant gains at least two practical skills to enhance employability and reduce dependence on imported labour.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, described the partnership as a strategic collaboration that strengthens resource mobilisation and institutional capacity. She said APDC’s expertise in project design, capacity building, and youth incubation provides a strong framework to transform centres into modern training and incubation hubs across Nigeria.
APDC Managing Director Dr. Chiji Ojukwu highlighted the organisation’s track record, having empowered over 9,000 young people and women, with a focus on inclusive programmes spanning agriculture, entrepreneurship, waste-to-wealth initiatives, fashion, and creative industries. He said the new partnership will allow APDC to scale its programmes nationwide, working with institutions like TVET bodies, the Industrial Training Fund, First Bank, and Women’s Bank, while engaging development finance institutions such as the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
Ojukwu expressed confidence that the collaboration will deliver measurable impact, expand youth employment opportunities, and contribute lessons to national youth and development policies, supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
