By Muhammad Sani Mu’azu
In a bid to increase youth empowerment and women’s inclusion in Nigeria’s economic development
Thrive Agric and Crust Microfinance Bank, with support from Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, has advocated the need to equip women and young people with essential skills.
The initiative aims to address the country’s economic challenges by equipping youths with the requisite skills.
The plea was made by the Project Coordinator, Challenge Fund for Youth Employment, Abdulwahab Abubakar during a youth and women employment training and advocacy seminar in Bauchi on Saturday.
Abubakar explained that the seminar sought to ignite, change, and drive economic growth by empowering young people from five local government areas in Bauchi State.
“We brought together 300 youths from over 10 communities to provide them with the skills they need to thrive and sustain themselves,” he said.
He stressed the urgency of the initiative, noting that the current economic hardship facing Nigerians “makes empowering young people to become independent crucial now more than ever.”
He further highlighted the Nigerian youth’s enthusiasm for driving change, stressing that they were ready to take the skills gained back to their communities.
According to Abubakar, “The youth are eager to be agents of change. This training gives them the tools to do so. I have the optimism that the programme would offer lasting solutions to the issues hindering youth and women’s growth in the country.”
In his remarks, Mu’azu Alhaji, Chairman of Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability, underscored the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s youth potential.
He pointed out that over 60 per cent of the country’s population consists of young people, highlighting that, “If Nigeria can tap into the potential of its youth, we can lead the world in innovations across sectors like agriculture.”
Mu’azu who also voiced concerns about the limited opportunities for young people in decision-making roles, particularly at the national level, saying,
“Despite making up a significant portion of the population, young Nigerians remain marginalised in key decision-making processes.
“It’s time to recognise the need for their involvement,” he urged.
He also pointed at the importance of equipping youths with soft skills to compete in today’s fast-paced world and encouraged participants to apply their new skills to better themselves and society.
Na’ima Gidado, speaking on behalf of the participants, expressed her gratitude to Thrive Agric, Crust Microfinance Bank, and the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment for the training.
She pledged to engage in the agricultural sector and called on the government to create more job opportunities for young people to curb youth restiveness.
Martaba FM reports further that the seminar benefited over 300 youths and women from local government areas such as Bauchi, Dass, Darazo, Ningi, Tafawa Balewa, and Ganjuwa.
The training, supported by Thrive Agric and Crust Microfinance Bank, provided participants with starter tools to help them kickstart their journeys to economic independence.
