The Federal Government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Programme (YEIDEP) received a major boost on Thursday, September 11, 2025, as Alpha Morgan Bank exclusively sponsored the Rivers State Stakeholders Engagement Forum in Port Harcourt.
The forum, anchored by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, NGOs, CSOs, cooperative societies, women organisations, and youth groups to devise a roadmap for YEIDEP’s implementation. The programme aims to create 20 million jobs for young Nigerians and women within the next two years through entrepreneurship and self-employment.
Other participating banks included Fidelity Bank, Keystone Bank, Wema Bank, Zenith Bank, Ecobank, UBA, and Alternative Bank.
FG Commends Tinubu’s Initiative
Speaking at the event, Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by Dr. Warrens Bekearedebo Augusta, Director of Finance and Accounts at the Ministry, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating YEIDEP.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR deserves the gratitude and appreciation of Nigerians for his role in the creation of this strategic youth economic empowerment scheme, designed to tackle the country’s worrisome youth unemployment, youth poverty, economic exclusion and radicalization. With YEIDEP and its effective implementation, these ugly social factors will soon be mitigated,” she said.
“Nigeria Sitting on a Keg of Gunpowder” — Iyere
Comrade Kennedy Iyere, YEIDEP’s Coordinator-General and a renowned humanitarian activist, urged governors and political leaders to commit resources to the programme.
“Nigeria’s chronic youth unemployment is a ticking time bomb, and indeed we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder as a country. YEIDEP offers us an escape route away from a looming political destruction. This is why all state governors, other elected officials, concerned wealthy Nigerians, and global donor partners must invest their financial resources towards ensuring the effective and successful implementation of YEIDEP,” Iyere declared.
Alpha Morgan Pledges Unrestricted Support
In her keynote remarks, Alpha Morgan Bank Executive Director, Adedoyin Anyaehie, said the bank is fully committed to YEIDEP’s success.
“At Alpha Morgan Bank, our vision is to provide excellent financial services, leveraging technology, talent, and partnerships to deliver sustainable growth. YEIDEP directly touches at least three of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which Nigeria is committed. This is why we proudly stand with YEIDEP, as a financial partner, ensuring it succeeds and positively impacts the lives of Nigerian youth,” she said.
She described Nigeria’s youth as the country’s greatest strength.
“According to statistics from the National Population Commission, between 60–70% of Nigerians are under the age of 30 — about 160 to 170 million people. With a median age of 18 years, we have a formidable force that, if well harnessed, can drive our economic development and national growth. Nigerian youth are not just the future of this nation — they are the ‘now’ of Nigeria, and the greatest asset we have as a country,” Anyaehie stressed.
Stakeholders at the forum unanimously agreed that YEIDEP represents a timely solution to unemployment, poverty, and radicalisation, and pledged their support to ensure its full success.
