Our youths need good mental health to excel – FG
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has stressed the importance of prioritising the mental health of Nigerian youths as a foundation for productivity and excellence. Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative (CEYEI), Olawande said youth development should not be limited to job creation and empowerment but must […]
Ayodele Olawande
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has stressed the importance of prioritising the mental health of Nigerian youths as a foundation for productivity and excellence.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative (CEYEI), Olawande said youth development should not be limited to job creation and empowerment but must also focus on mental health.
He said the ministry had created a department dedicated to raising awareness and providing programmes that address mental wellness among youths.
The minister said the initiatives are designed to enlighten young people on the dangers of neglecting mental health and the benefits of a healthy mindset in wealth creation and nation-building.
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He urged Nigerian youths to embrace creativity by turning waste into wealth, stressing that this would not only generate income but also promote environmental cleanliness and sustainability.
Highlighting various initiatives of the ministry, Olawande listed the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), which focuses on youth protection and capacity building; digital literacy programmes in partnership with NITDA; “YO! Health,” a new mental health and wellness hub; the Youth Cred Scheme in partnership with Credit Core, aimed at expanding access to loans for young people; as well as plans for a Youth Bank, MSME Incubator, and National Innovation Hub.
He noted that the CEYEI, developed in partnership with the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), was designed to tackle unemployment, drive economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability. According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Olawande disclosed that interested youths would receive training, mentorship, access to green technology, and market opportunities through the initiative. A new Waste-to-Wealth website has also been launched to serve as a platform for registration, investment, and global market access.
He further emphasised the need to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reflect the realities of current generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials. The minister added that the initiative would be rolled out across all 36 states and 990 local government areas, stressing that it will be inclusive of youths from all political backgrounds while focusing on unified development objectives.