The Senate has scheduled to hold today, Monday, October 9, 2017, a dialogue on youth unemployment and development in the country. It plans to use the forum to review the efficacy of policies and programmes intended to reduce the political marginalisation and support the development needs of today’s youth.

The Media Office of the President of the Senate, in a statement in Abuja, noted that Nigeria’s recent economic downturn has exposed the challenges that millions of young people face in starting their lives and finding their rightful place in the society.

It stated that while youth unemployment rates is at historic high, efforts to diversify the economy has created uncertainty about skills and training needs of tomorrow’s work force.

The statement said: “Youth development has serious political, economic and social implications for Nigerian society. This is a critical issue that requires the collaboration of government, the private sector and civil society. All must come together to listen, discuss and better understand how central youth development is to our country’s overall stability and national security.

“For this reason, the Senate has decided to conduct a roundtable to hear from the public and private sector, ideas for moving the issue of youth development to the centre of the national discussion about Nigeria’s political and economic future. Not only is Nigeria changing, but the world is rapidly becoming more competitive and technologically advanced.”

The Senate, according to the statement, has invited ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that implement the Federal Government’s youth development and employment programmes.

Also, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and private sector organisations that are on the frontline of youth advocacy and programme activities would participate, the statement said.

It disclosed that panelists will discuss their missions related to youth development and share insights about the challenges they are facing with programme implementation in the face of the current challenges affecting youth.

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