Tinubu Pledges Support For Youth-driven Digital Economy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s youth-driven digital economy.

The announcement comes as the world celebrates International Youth Day with this year’s theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”

In a statement, the president’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, cited examples of youth innovation across the country, from content creators in Lagos to e-commerce entrepreneurs in Aba and agro-tech innovators in Kano.

He emphasized that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to create millions of IT and technical jobs, positioning Nigeria as a hub for digital talent.

The statement reads, “On International Youth Day, President Bola Tinubu celebrates Nigeria’s youth and extols their creative zeal and agency to drive digital adoption, trends, and innovation in Nigeria and beyond.

“The International Youth Day is celebrated every August 12, and the 2024 theme is ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.'”

President Tinubu affirmed that within the nation’s youths lies the excellent spirit and pearl of transformation to digitally innovate Nigeria to prosperity and global acclaim.

The president acknowledged the strides of the youth in diverse spheres, especially in developing billion dollar technologies and innovations to make the world a more prosperous and evolved place.

The president saluted that Nigerian youth in Ebute Metta with only a ringlight and a camera, creating legitimate income and wonders in amusement; that young woman entrepreneur in Aba, creating inimitable fashion pieces, and that young man in Kano, creating pathways for sustainable agriculture through agro-technology.

President Tinubu stated that it is in furtherance of harnessing the creative talents of the youth that his administration relaunched the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

The facility is a N110 billion fund dedicated to empowering the youth in priority sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and development.

The Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE) programme, the 3Million Technical Talents Scheme, the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP) are also some of the programmes to empower the nation’s young people, and create millions of IT and technical jobs that will make them globally competitive.

On this special occasion to celebrate the youth, President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration is here to make their dreams come alive in a sustainably expanding, inclusive economy.