The Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalisation Programme (NIYEEDEP) has revealed plans to launch a job portal for young Nigerian farmers.
The initiative is expected to create millions of direct jobs for Nigerian youths across the agricultural value chain.
This was disclosed when delegates from across the world met with Ayodele Olawande, minister of youth development, in Abuja, to discuss future steps for the initiative.
The delegates included Kennedy Iyere, coordinator general for NIYEEDEP, Staci Smith and Marc Paley, representatives from the American Grant Writers Association, and Victor Edeh, African representative for Bayern Munich Football Club, among others.
On his part, Iyere appreciated the minister, emphasing that the partnership with the ministry was intended to mobilise young Nigerians to address the current economic challenges facing the economy.
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He added that the portal’s focus was to tackle the increasing rate of unemployment, soaring food insecurity, and multidimensional poverty among Nigerian households.
“NIYEEDEP exists to empower Nigerian youths to address these outlined key economic problems by creating direct jobs in key sectors such as agriculture, agro-allied industries, sports, technology, and the creative and digital economy,” Iyere said.
He noted that the portal unveiling ceremony to be held in Abuja on January 17 is to drive recruitment into the innovative agricultural sector.
It will also bring together diverse stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, development partners, youth organisations, diaspora stakeholders, cooperative networks, security agencies and women groups, he said.
According to Iyere, the event would serve as a critical step in operationalising NIYEEDEP and transforming youth from job seekers into entrepreneurs, thus generating wealth and alleviating them from poverty.
Similarly, Olawande reiterated the commitment of President Tinubu towards fulfilling his responsibilities to youths in the country, especially in capacity building, youth empowerment, skills training, and job creation.
He expressed his appreciation to the delegation for coming to Nigeria to assist the government in solving the problem of unemployment faced by youths while commending the team for the excellent work so far.
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