The Ministry of Youth Development says its 2024 ministerial retreat will focus on reducing youth unemployment rates by promoting an entrepreneurial mindset.

Youth minister Jamila Ibrahim said this in Abuja on Thursday during a two-day ministerial retreat on presidential deliverables.

Ms Ibrahim said the retreat, by focusing on three key outcomes, marked a critical step in achieving the ministry’s goals.

“The first is a reduction in youth unemployment rates by promoting an entrepreneurial mindset, thereby harnessing the vast innovative energy that’s the hallmark of the typical Nigerian youth.

“Second is an increase in youths with relevant and global in-demand skills, especially in emerging areas of environmentally sustainable sectors. This holds the key to the economy of the future and in other priority sectors that will put our vast youths in the driving for the attainment of a national goal of a trillion-dollar economy.

“The last key outcome is an increase in youth participation in social, political and economic development, including strategic participation in governance and leadership,” she said.

According to the minister, the outcomes are the pillars upon which the ministry will build a stronger, more vibrant, resilient Nigeria.

She said its guiding lights were the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ deliverables with the selected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

“They provide us with measurable goals that ensure we stay on course and make tangible progress. Let us frequently remind ourselves of these KPIs, as they will be our benchmarks for success and accountability,” Ms Ibrahim stressed.

According to her, the youth constitute a significant proportion of our population and represent immense potential and opportunity.

“Yet, they face challenges that require our immediate and sustained attention, such as unemployment, skill gaps and limited participation in socio-economic activities. These challenges are not insurmountable with a strategic, well-coordinated approach, we can turn them into opportunities for growth and empowerment,” Ms Ibrahim said.

Her junior counterpart, Ayodele Olawande, noted that three things must be put in place: action, thinking outside the box, and commitment to issues that concern the youths.

Mr Olawande said they must think differently to make the ministry as powerful as people believed.

(NAN)