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Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Monday, assured Nigerians living abroad, particularly young professionals, that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is taking measures and implementing strategic reforms to create a stable and prosperous Nigeria that will soon attract citizens back to the country.
According to Olawande, Tinubu’s policies are focused on the future, as they are laying a foundation that will make Nigeria a preferred destination for its diaspora population.
The youth minister disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Akure, Ondo State, during the grand 10th coronation anniversary of the Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II.
The minister, who was honoured with a Special Youth Leadership Service Award by the monarch, emphasised that the federal government’s ongoing empowerment initiatives are designed to create an environment where Nigerian youths can thrive and take pride in their nation.
“Everything the President is doing now is for the future. And I promise you, in the near future, everybody will prefer to come and stay in Nigeria rather than remain abroad because the country is being stabilised,” Olawande said.
Olawande emphasised that for too long, Nigerian youths have felt disconnected from leadership; however, Tinubu’s administration is making deliberate efforts to reverse this trend.
“There are 40 years of breaking. Youths have not been able to see, touch, or feel the government. But now, we are putting all structures together—skills, education, partnerships—to bring them back into the fold,” he said.
Olawande further emphasised that Nigeria is now working towards a model where “one Nigerian should have two skills,” enhancing employability and productivity among youths across various sectors.
The minister also disclosed his recent diplomatic mission to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he participated in youth development collaborations, a move he said demonstrated the increasing international recognition of Nigeria’s new youth agenda.
“I happened to be the first Black Nigerian man that will visit that place and that they will give access to, just because of what the president is doing,” he said. (The Guardian)
