By Clara Dabo
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on Nigerian youths to embrace skill development as a key driver of national growth and personal advancement.
The Minister who was represented by her Special Assistant (Technical), Princess Jummai Idonijemade, made the call at the 2025 United Nations World Youth Skills Day celebration held at the FCT Department of Mass Education, Karu, Abuja.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said with over 151 million Nigerians under the age of 35, the country holds vast human capital potential that must be harnessed through practical education, value-based learning, and future-focused skills.
According to her, the importance of foundational literacy, numeracy, digital fluency, and civic awareness is an essential platforms for youth empowerment.
She therefore reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs’ commitment to promoting gender-responsive programmes in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She further stated that the Ministry is supporting youth entrepreneurship across sectors such as tailoring, clean energy, agro-processing, ICT, and business development.
While describing skills acquisition as a proactive investment, she encouraged young people to leverage their mobile phones as tools for digital enterprise and that mindset, rather than capital, is often the most critical barrier to progress.
She also stressed the need for youth involvement in agriculture, citing urban gardening, food processing, and climate-smart farming as strategic areas for addressing food security and environmental challenges.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders including the FCT Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs and the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, to enhance access to mentorship and startup support.
She referenced a recent survey which ranked Nigerian youth highest in creativity and entrepreneurship across ten African countries, describing it as both recognition and motivation and urged students to use their holiday period for self-development and skill building, rather than idleness.
The event marked the beginning of a week-long series of workshops, exhibitions, and mentoring activities aimed at positioning Nigerian youth as drivers of innovation and economic transformation.
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