Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports endorses Alliance for Youth Nigeria

Photo: (L to R) Gabriel Jacob, Business Development Manager, U-Connect HR Ltd, Tumi Onamade, Senior Manager, Participant Engagement & Programs, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sunday Dare, Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, and Love Idoko, Executive Director, Activate Success International.

By Peter Ejiofor

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has signed on as a development partner of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, an initiative designed to enhance young Nigerians employability and entrepreneurial skills.

Nestle Nigeria Plc, a major partner in the initiative, said on Saturday in a statement that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development announced its membership at a recent signing ceremony to mark its formal endorsement membership of the Alliance.

The Alliance for Youth Nigeria was launched in August 2021 with the aim to help 250,000 young Nigerians, in three years, to acquire the necessary skills to thrive in the world of work or create their own enterprises.

According to the statement, the Country Human Resources Manager, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Mr Shakiru Lawal, speaking on behalf of the Alliance, says the partners are delighted to have the ministry as a member.

“We are delighted to have the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on board as a Partner of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria.

“At the inauguration of the Alliance in August 2021, we set for ourselves, the huge objective of reaching 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills within three years.

“We remain committed to working together to address the challenges of youth unemployment in the country and as we continue to expand partnerships and collaborations, we are assured that we are on the right track to the actualisation of our objectives,’’ he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, speaking, said: “The onboarding of the ministry as a partner of the Alliance is significant and timely as the government alone cannot address the huge challenge of youth unemployment.

“I commend the Alliance for choosing a different and unique path, making investments in the young Nigerians and giving them opportunities to create wealth.

“It is imperative that Nigerian youth equip themselves with the necessary skills to give them an added advantage and enable them to become better positioned for decent work.’’

Members of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria include Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, The Big Bottling Company Ltd, the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, UConnect HR Ltd and Sterling One Foundation.

Others are the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development who has signed on recently, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Activate Success International.

The members and partner organisations of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, invest in joint and individual projects to give young Nigerians readiness-for-work training, entrepreneurship training, meaningful work experience, internships, and mentoring opportunities, thereby contributing towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all by 2030.