As part of the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) commitment to meaningful youth engagement in policies and programs that will help youth lead and thrive, NGYouthSDGs hosted an event to advocate for the implementation of the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP). The event brought thirty youth and youth stakeholders from the International Labour Organization, the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the private sector, civil society and young people.
The event was organized with support from the British High Commission on the 2nd of August 2022 to commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2022. The event is strategic as it focused on advocating for the implementation of the NIYEAP which was launched a year ago to provide decent work for 3.7 million youth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can watch the event highlight below:
The high-level dialogue began with opening remarks by Her Excellency Catriona Laing, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria highlighting the demographic dividend that the youth population brings to Nigeria and the urgency of ensuring that they attain their full potential.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director Ms. Vanessa Phalla gave the keynote address reaffirming the ILO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in creating decent work for her youthful population
The Technical Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports on the NIYEAP, Ms Ebiho Agun spoke about the NIYEAP and the need to work with stakeholders to ensure wider reach on the offers of the initiative to create decent work for young Nigerians.
A panel session made up Ms Sandra Chukwudozie, CEO, Salpha Energy, Mr Gideon Olanrewaju, Executive Director, Aid for Rural Education Advancement Initiative, Mr Razaq Fatai, Policy and Advocacy Manager, ONE Campaign and Mr Bright Jaja, CEO, iCreate Evolution Africa looked at initiatives to bolster human capital development to addressing the youth jobs mismatch and the school to work transition.
** Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative is a youth-led civil society organization committed to advocating for meaningful youth engagement in policies and programs that will help youth lead and thrive. NGYouthSDGs focuses on education and leadership, employment and livelihoods and active citizenship. **