Maryam Aminu
In a bid to advance national development through youth empowerment, Connected Development (CODE) hosted a high-level roundtable discussion yesterday in Abuja under the theme “Empowering Nigerian Youths for National Development: From Promises to Progress.”
The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Honorable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, civil society organizations, and media representatives, to forge a collaborative strategy that aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the event, Hamzat B. Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE, stressed the urgency of moving from rhetoric to results. “While our young people are breaking new ground in technology, the creative arts, and social entrepreneurship, they are also contending with systemic inequities that limit their potential,” he stated.
Lawal acknowledged ongoing government efforts, including the 2025 Youth Agenda, but emphasized the need for inclusive and practical implementation. “Any proposed National Youth CONFAB must ensure grassroots representation so policies reflect the diversity of Nigerian youth,” he added.
Connected Development further proposed strategic measures to unlock Nigeria’s demographic dividend:
A unified National Youth Policy Framework aligning state and federal efforts, especially in marginalized regions, Establishment of quarterly engagements between civil society and the Ministry.
And Scaling the N10 billion FCT Youth Fund to a N200 billion National Youth Investment Fund, with 40% reserved for women-led ventures.
Through initiatives like Follow The Money and partnerships such as the Open Government Partnership (OGP), CODE has empowered communities and institutionalized youth participation in governance. These efforts, Lawal said, must be matched by greater collaboration across government, civil society, and the private sector.
“The Nigerian youth are not a problem to be solved they are the architects of our future,” Lawal concluded. “It is time to turn promises into progress.”
Lawal reaffirmed CODE’s readiness to work with stakeholders to ensure youth inclusion becomes a pillar of national development strategy.
Earlier, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, outlined an ambitious vision for youth engagement, including the creation of a Youth Development Bank, reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the institutionalization of quarterly CSO-government dialogues.
“We must create sustainable structures that give our young people access to funding and entrepreneurial support. A Youth Development Bank will be a major catalyst,” Olawande stated.
The Minister praised Nigerian youth as global trailblazers across various sectors, including technology, education, medicine, agriculture, and the creative industries.
He emphasized that their innovation must be met with institutional backing and structured inclusion to drive national transformation.
“It’s time our young people start engaging the legislative, judiciary, and executive arms constructively. We must shape the laws and systems that shape us,” he added.
Olawande also announced plans for a 30-day National Youth Confab, an inclusive platform for policy dialogue, innovation, and grassroots participation, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to youth-led development
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