The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Youth House in Abuja.
The minister said this would end years of agitations for a point of convergence for youth of diverse backgrounds in the country.
At a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, the minister said the proposed establishment of a Youth House has reaffirmed the commitment of the President to the welfare of Nigerians.
Olawande added that the house would meet the consistent yearnings for such a monument over the years.
The Minister said the strategy of decentralising access to government programmes by youth fit perfectly into the grand vision of the present administration to deliver a country that works for all Nigerians, irrespective of where they live.
He said: “While several youth stakeholders and groups have for a long time agitated for a landmark building in the nation’s capital to serve as a Youth House, this yearning has remained unmet over the years. Now, our youth-loving President has made this possible, and Nigerian youths are grateful.
“I must mention that the youth house would not be limited to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) alone, there would be a Youth Centre in all States of the Federation, with a corresponding youth green house to be located inside the secretariats of all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“Youth House in FCT, and the Youth Centre at the State Capitals and the Youth Green House in all the LGAs, which would be coordinated in partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and private sector players, would help facilitate opportunities for all categories of youth, provide access to those who live in the grassroots, promote fairness and enhance the Tinubu administration’s commitment to inclusive implementation of all youth programmes and policies.
“As a father, what Mr. President has done is to offer all Nigerian youth yet another platform for social interaction, and an opportunity to find their self-identity and passion.
“With the Youth House now in place, many young people would have a chance to sufficiently express their passionate abilities.”
Revealing that the detailed organogram and functions of youth house would be released in due course, he stated that the goal of the House would be to help the youth develop important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, cooperation and communication.
