The Federal Government on Tuesday officially flagged off the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP) recruitment drive in Enugu State, reinforcing its efforts to combat youth unemployment, poverty and radicalisation through large-scale economic empowerment and skills development.
The launch, held at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, marks the programme’s expansion into the South-East, even as implementation has already commenced in several states across the federation, with others expected to begin the exercise in the coming weeks.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Director of Education and Youth Development in the ministry, Mr. Despan Kwardem, described YEIDEP as a strategic national intervention designed to unlock the economic potential of millions of young Nigerians.
“It gives me pleasure to join the government and people of Enugu State for the flag-off of the recruitment drive for the Youth Economic Intervention and De-radicalisation Programme. The programme represents a bold national response to one of the most critical questions of our time: How do we transform Nigeria’s youthful population into a productive workforce for economic growth, food security, peace and national prosperity?” he said.
Kwardem said the initiative seeks to reposition young people as drivers of national development by creating opportunities for enterprise, innovation and wealth creation.
According to him, the programme is built on the conviction that sustainable development begins with empowering the nation’s youth.
“It is designed to ensure that every young person who is willing to work has a pathway to economic empowerment,” he said.
He stressed that credible data remains essential for effective planning and implementation of government interventions.
“Registration drives data, and data drives development. We cannot empower those we cannot identify,” he stated.
The minister’s representative noted that several empowerment initiatives in the past recorded limited success because of inadequate data and poor beneficiary tracking, urging eligible youths in Enugu State to take advantage of the registration exercise.
He also highlighted the enormous opportunities available across the modern agricultural value chain, explaining that technology is reshaping the sector and creating new career paths for young Nigerians.
“The future farmer is not merely a crop cultivator or animal rearer. The future farmer is a technology entrepreneur, a data analyst, an innovator and a business owner,” he said.
Kwardem further appealed to financial institutions, agribusiness operators, technology firms and cooperative societies to collaborate with government in ensuring the programme achieves its objectives.
“When private capital meets youthful energy, innovation flourishes. When government creates an enabling environment and the private sector provides investment, opportunities expand and young people flourish,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator-General of YEIDEP, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, explained that the initiative was established by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to provide lasting solutions to youth unemployment while reducing poverty and social vulnerability across the country.
He said the programme is open to Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 and that interested participants can begin the process through designated partner financial institutions.
“You don’t need to know anybody in government or occupy any special position. Simply visit any of the authorised financial institutions and open a YEIDEP account,” he said.
Iyere listed UBA, Union Bank, Fidelity Bank, Access Bank, Zenith Bank and other participating financial institutions as registration partners for the initiative.
Describing YEIDEP as an economic emancipation programme, he said it is designed to strengthen social cohesion while creating sustainable livelihoods for millions of Nigerian youths.
He assured prospective beneficiaries that funding would be sourced through government intervention, development partners and private-sector partnerships.
According to him, beneficiaries will be organised into cooperative societies and business clusters to promote accountability and ensure the efficient use of resources.
“Once funding is approved, beneficiaries will be integrated into cooperative structures, with groups of five persons forming small and medium-scale enterprises. This will ensure proper utilisation of resources and long-term sustainability,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from countries such as China and India, Iyere expressed confidence that Nigerian youths possess the capacity to transform the nation’s economy if provided with the right support and opportunities.
With Enugu joining the growing list of participating states, the Federal Government said the nationwide recruitment drive will continue as part of its broader strategy to expand employment opportunities, boost agricultural productivity and equip young Nigerians with the skills and resources needed for sustainable economic growth.
