President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday launched the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) Gigs Platform and presided over the NIYA Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja, under the theme “One Youth, Two Skills.” The historic event signaled a major leap in the administration’s efforts to build a skilled, digitally enabled, and economically empowered youth population.
A total of 300 young Nigerians received direct financial support:
- 200 youth-led startups from the formal sector each received ₦1 million,
- 100 beneficiaries from the informal sector received ₦500,000 each.
Addressing the beneficiaries, President Tinubu urged them to “dream big, build boldly, innovate courageously, and scale fearlessly,” emphasizing that creativity and technology would position Nigerian youths for global competitiveness.
He also announced the rollout of NIYA Gigs, a national freelancing and digital services marketplace designed to connect young Nigerians to paid opportunities both locally and internationally.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to youth development, the President highlighted ongoing efforts to expand access to enterprise financing, consumer credit, fairer taxation, and regulatory reforms—all aimed at removing obstacles that stifle young entrepreneurs. The grants, he said, represent “a vote of confidence from your nation… seed capital for the future we are building together.”
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the initiative as the first deliberate attempt to build a unified youth development ecosystem that integrates formal and informal sector talents into national progress.
Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, added that the programme reflects the government’s resolve to put young Nigerians at the heart of its economic agenda.
The event marks NIYA’s evolution into a full-fledged youth empowerment ecosystem—connecting skills, markets, capital, and global opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.
