Plans to establish a N110 billion Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Cluster have been made public by the Federal Government. This was announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday during the National Population Commission (NPC)-organized World Population Day (WPD) celebration held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He noted that this is on top of the N110 billion Youth Investment Fund that currently exists, as well as the Youth Data Bank and the National Youth Development Bank.
According to the News Agency, World Population Day (WPD) is observed on July 11 every year in observance of people who have made contributions to addressing the global population problem as well as to increase awareness of the issue globally.
The global observance’s 2024 theme is “Embracing the Power of Inclusive Data Towards a Resilient and Equitable Future for All.”.
Shettima, therefore, said, “It is worthy to note that under the present dispensation, we were able to fulfill the 30 percent quota for youth inclusion in governance across all tiers of government, and most importantly, the President has walked the talk.
“He approved N110 billion for the Youth Investment Fund. We are setting up the National Youth Development Bank. We are going to set up the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Cluster, worth N110 billion.
“This is in addition to the Youth Data Bank that the minister earlier talked about that we are setting up.”
The vice president pointed out that if governments at all levels had access to inclusive data sources, policy actions and investments would align with the needs of citizens.
He listed the needs to include the provision of decent jobs that pay sustainable incomes to the working-age population, the creation of affordable and equitable access to quality healthcare services at all levels, and quality education for all.
Shettima, who is the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), pledged to use the platform and other networks within his purview to ensure people and communities remained the government’s focus for development.
He added that “I believe that aligning people with investment choices will transform quantity (numbers) to quality (capital) and from liability to assets, guaranteeing rapid economic growth.”
Earlier, the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, had urged partners present at the event to leverage scientific evidence to resolve challenges confronting the various segments of the world’s population.
She also disclosed plans by the Federal Government to build a youth data bank that would be dedicated to harnessing the potential of young people for national development, regardless of their location and status.
