Commemorating World Youth Skills Day in Akwa Ibom: Building Youth Capacity for Sustainable Growth... Political Impact News
COMMEMORATING WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY IN AKWA IBOM:
Building Youth Capacity for Sustainable Growth
Political Impact News
Today in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, I joined young Nigerians, partners, and stakeholders to commemorate World Youth Skills Day — a momentous occasion not just nationally, but especially for Akwa Ibom, as the State marks this global day for the very first time since it was established by the United Nations in 2015.
While this is Nigeria’s 10th official celebration of the day, it is a maiden edition in Akwa Ibom — and I was honoured to be part of it. The event served as a powerful platform to deepen the synergy between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Akwa Ibom State Government.
We seized the opportunity to launch two grassroots-driven initiatives: NiYA Ambassadors – designed to expand the reach and impact of the Nigerian Youth Academy across communities by building a network of change agents at the local level; and the Bamboo Youth Empowerment Programme – an innovative collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Akwa Ibom State Government, and the National Bamboo Farmers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NBFPMAN). This initiative aims to unlock the immense potential of bamboo as a driver of youth empowerment, green jobs, and sustainable economic growth.
It was particularly encouraging to witness Akwa Ibom’s commitment to lead in this climate-smart and forward-looking agenda, given its vast bamboo resources. I was also pleased to learn that Governor Pastor Umo Eno has established a dedicated Ministry for Youth Development — a direct response to a request I made during my last visit. This is a bold and commendable step, ensuring that federal youth development programmes can align more effectively with sub-national priorities. After all, the young Nigerians we serve live in States and Local Governments — and for our impact to be meaningful, our interventions must be localized, collaborative, and coordinated.
Another highlight of the day was the unveiling of the proposed Arise Youth-Friendly Hub — a transformative space designed to inspire innovation, provide support, and empower young people in Akwa Ibom State. This hub mirrors our flagship Youth House initiative at the national level — envisioned as a convergence point for creativity, dialogue, and inclusive youth development.
Together, we are building a future where every young Nigerian has the skills, platforms, and support to thrive. We would keep doing our best to support, empower, and protect the youth of Nigeria.
#WorldYouthSkillsDay
#WYSD2025
#NiYA
#YouthDevelopment
#AkwaIbomRising
#BambooRevolution
#GreenEconomy
#FederalMinistryOfYouthDevelopment
#EmpoweringNigerianYouth
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