The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on Nigerian youth to embrace skills development as a key pathway to personal empowerment and national transformation.
Delivering her message through her Special Assistant (Technical), Princess Jummai Idonije, at the opening of the 2025 United Nations World Youth Skills Day celebration in Abuja, the Minister stressed the need to equip young Nigerians with practical and future-ready skills.
The event, held at the FCT Department of Mass Education, Karu Site, brought together educators, development partners, and hundreds of young people to celebrate creativity, innovation, and capacity building.
“With over 151 million young persons under 35 — nearly 70% of our population — Nigeria holds immense potential,” the Minister said. “To unlock that potential, our youth must be equipped with the right education, values, and skillsets.”
She emphasized the foundational role of education, identifying literacy, numeracy, digital fluency, and civic awareness as key pillars of empowerment. She also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to advancing gender-responsive programmes that promote youth entrepreneurship in tailoring, clean energy, agro-processing, ICT, and business management.
“Skills acquisition is not a backup plan,” she declared. “It is a bold, visionary step forward.”
The Minister encouraged young Nigerians to view their mobile phones as tools for digital enterprise and innovation, stating, “With the right mindset, you don’t need capital to start — you need vision.”
Highlighting agriculture as a platform for leadership and innovation, she pointed to urban gardening, food processing, and climate-smart farming as vital areas where youth can help address food security and environmental concerns.
She also called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders — including the FCT Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs and the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) — to expand mentorship, empowerment, and startup support across the FCT and beyond.
Referencing a recent regional survey where Nigerian youth ranked highest for creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship among ten African countries, she described it as “both an affirmation and a call to action.”
She urged youth to use the holiday period productively. “This long break is not for idleness. It is a chance to sharpen your skills, define your future, and build something meaningful.”
“As we celebrate the 2025 World Youth Skills Day, let it renew our commitment to equip, mentor, and uplift our youth. Let’s build a future where every young Nigerian is empowered to shine,” she concluded.
The event marks the start of a week-long series of skill-building workshops, exhibitions, and mentorship sessions designed to position Nigerian youth as agents of innovation and enterprise.
ADEOLA KUNLE
