The Federal Government says it plans to expose more than two million youths nationwide with innovative products and services to the global market through an online portal, ”Nigeriafy”.
The Minister of Youths
and Sports Development, Mr Solomon Dalung, said this on Thursday in Abuja at
the launching of the ‘Nigeriafy’ portal with the theme “Youth Innovators are
Assets to the Nation”.
The ministry organised
the event in collaboration with the George Oni Youth Empowerment Initiative
(GOYEI) and in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) gathered that Mr George Oni, a young entrepreneur and initiator
of GOYEI, developed the portal.
Dalung said the
ministry was collaborating with GOYEI to demonstrate the commitment of the
present administration to boost youth development and empowerment.
The minister, who was
represented by Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said
that the portal would also facilitate the creation of 100,000 jobs yearly.
He said that the
ministry would also mobilise network of entrepreneurs and innovators, and
create a link with the youths, especially those who keyed into the portal.
According to Dalung,
the first 12 best innovators that registered on the portal will be assisted
with $1,000 each as seed money for their innovation.
The minister lauded
Oni’s initiative, saying the ministry will collaborate with other relevant
ministries, departments and agencies of government to sustain the initiative.
“The launch of this
portal could not have come at a better time when unemployment has become a huge
global challenge facing various countries of the world and Nigeria is not
exempted.
“If this problem is
not tackled, the nation will continue to face increasing waive of frustrated
youths with the tendency toward cultism, prostitution, armed robbery,
militancy, drug abuse and child trafficking, among others.
“The ministry in line
with its mandate will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that
Nigerian youths are empowered, engaged, promoted and projected to the global
world,’’ Dalung said.
The Chairman, House
Committee on Youth Development, Rep. Segun Adekola, assured the ministry and
GOYEI of the National Assembly’s (NASS) cooperation and collaboration to
fulfilling the objectives of the project.
Adekola said that NASS
would also provide the necessary legal framework and environment conducive for
the initiative to thrive.
“Youth unemployment
currently stands at over 50 per cent.
“According to the 2013
survey by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), most
of the capacity programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment have
concentrated more on training.
“There is no tie-in to
the other critical connective initiatives such as a platform for the connection
of innovators and inventors all over the world,” the chairman said.
Oni said that
Nigeriafy was an online social networking platform to connect young people
globally, especially Nigerians at home and in diaspora, to enable them
contribute to the socio-economic growth of Nigeria.
He said through
Nigeriafy, grants and programmes aimed at empowering the youth to build their
various enterprises and projects will be provided.
“Nigeriafy will also
be a launch pad to showcase the talents, resources and innovations of
Nigerians.
“Through this portal,
youths will be able to showcase their attributes to the global marketplace and
open up our talents to opportunities across the globe,” Oni said
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