Youth Empowerment
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has launched a comprehensive suite of youth empowerment programmes aimed at fostering digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation. These initiatives build upon and expand the foundation laid by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s N-Power programme, which focused on providing temporary employment and skills development for young Nigerians.
Tinubu administration's youth empowerment initiatives
1. 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme
Launched in October 2023, the 3MTT programme aims to train three million Nigerians in high-demand digital skills by 2027. The initiative is structured in phases, with the first phase commencing in December 2023, training 30,000 fellows across Nigeria's 36 states and the FCT. The second phase began in February 2024, targeting 270,000 fellows in three cohorts. The programme focuses on areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, UI/UX design, cloud computing, cybersecurity, software engineering, and game development.
2. Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA)
NiYA is designed to train seven million youths and create five million jobs within 2–4 years. It offers online learning, digital communities, start-up support, political orientation, and career development. The academy focuses on equipping young Nigerians with skills in digital literacy, technical fields, entrepreneurship, and the creative industries.
3. Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF)
The NYIF has been restructured and institutionalised under the Tinubu administration, with a N110 billion fund dedicated to empowering youth in priority sectors. It provides financial support to youth-owned enterprises, aiming to drive sustainable economic growth and development.
4. Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) Programme
The iDICE programme, backed by a $620 million fund, aims to empower young people by creating millions of IT and technical jobs. It includes the Three Million Technical Talents scheme and is designed to make Nigerian youth globally competitive.
5. Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA)
Implemented by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), SUPA aims to empower about 10 million artisans within two years. The programme provides tech-enabled skills training, licensing, and access to essential toolkits, enhancing the employability and productivity of Nigerian youth.
6. National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP)
NATEP focuses on advancing job creation, skills development, talent exports, and job outsourcing, aiming to create about one million jobs within five years. It engages world-class organisations and governments to foster its implementation.
7. Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)
Established in April 2024, NELFUND provides affordable loans to students pursuing tertiary education. It aims to ensure sustainable higher education and functional skill development for Nigerian students and young people.
Comparison with Buhari's N-Power Programme
The N-Power programme, introduced under President Muhammadu Buhari, was a component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). It focused on providing temporary employment and skills development for young Nigerians in areas such as education, agriculture, health, and vocational training.
While N-Power laid the groundwork for youth empowerment, the Tinubu administration has expanded the scope and scale of such initiatives.
