Juliet Jacob 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s youth innovation drive receives a fresh boost as government leaders pledge stronger backing for young entrepreneurs at the unveiling of the NIYA Start-Up Grant 2.0 and the launch of NIYA GIGs, a digital platform designed to expand employment opportunities nationwide.
Speaking at the ceremony on Wednesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the administration sees young innovators as central to Nigeria’s economic future. “Our young people are the engine of Nigeria’s future. Every investment in them is an investment in national prosperity,” Gbajabiamila says on behalf of the President.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, describes the programme as a practical response to youth unemployment, adding that it channels creativity into sustainable job creation. “This initiative unlocks the resilience, innovation and ambition of Nigerian youth,” Olawande says.
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, praises the programme’s inclusive design, noting that it lowers barriers for young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds to access economic opportunities.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to supporting NIYA projects that strengthen youth-led enterprises.
“We remain fully committed to backing every NIYA programme that empowers young innovators and strengthens Nigeria’s economic future,” she says, urging beneficiaries to build boldly and responsibly.
The NIYA Project Team receives commendation from stakeholders for creating platforms widely seen as critical to repositioning Nigeria’s youth as drivers of innovation, entrepreneurship and inclusive growth.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 