Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Youth Empowerment, Digital Inclusion and Online Safety
By Sarah Kitka
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and skills development, while fostering a safer, more inclusive, and responsible digital environment for young people.
The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, stated this during the Meta Youth Online Safety Summit held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Speaking at the summit, the Minister emphasized that youth development remains a top priority of the Federal Government, noting that sustainable empowerment programmes are essential to unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s youthful population. He stated that the Ministry is committed to creating opportunities that equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to become productive contributors to national development.
According to him, strategic investments in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation continue to serve as critical pathways for youth empowerment and economic growth.
Comrade Olawande commended Meta and other development partners for their sustained collaboration with the Government in advancing youth-focused digital initiatives across the country. He acknowledged the transformative role of digital platforms in enabling young people to access opportunities, acquire knowledge, build businesses, and actively participate in the digital economy.
The Minister stressed that online safety is a shared responsibility that begins at home, emphasizing that parents remain the first teachers and role models in shaping responsible digital behaviour among children and young people. He noted that government interventions and digital literacy programmes are designed to complement parental guidance, ensuring that young people can safely navigate the digital space while maximizing the opportunities it offers.
He further highlighted the Federal Government’s collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Meta, and other stakeholders to strengthen youth empowerment through digital skills development and innovation-driven programmes.
According to him, ongoing reforms are aimed at repositioning the NYSC Scheme to promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance, thereby encouraging corps members to become job creators rather than job seekers.
The Minister also noted that the Nigeria Youth Academy was established to equip young Nigerians with the digital competencies required to thrive in the rapidly evolving global economy. While reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Meta and other stakeholders in advancing the shared goal of building a digitally empowered generation of Nigerian youths.
In her remarks, the Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa (AWA) at Meta, Ms. Sade Dada, stated that the gathering of government representatives, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and educators reflects Meta’s belief that the most effective solutions to online safety challenges emerge through collective action and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
She observed that young people today are growing up in a digital environment unlike that of any previous generation, making conversations around online safety, digital wellbeing, and responsible online engagement more important than ever.
The summit provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to enhancing online safety while promoting the positive use of digital technologies among young people.
