In a major effort to address youth unemployment, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization (ILO) held a high-level stakeholder consultation to build consensus for the revised Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP 2025–2030).
The national stakeholder consultation took place on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel, Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Organized by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development with technical support from the ILO under the GIZ-SKYE II SEESIN project, the meeting gathered representatives from employers’ federations, organized labour unions, youth organizations, and international development partners.
The revised framework focuses on four critical areas: youth employability, entrepreneurship, sustainable job creation, and rights at work. It explicitly addresses skill mismatches, informal employment, and the school-to-work transition by targeting emerging high-growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, the green economy, renewable energy, and creative industries.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, the Assistant Director of Employment and Wages, Mrs. Cecilia Williams, emphasized policy alignment:
”Decent work must remain at the center of Nigeria’s youth employment agenda. We must align NIYEAP 2025–2030 directly with the National Employment Policy (NEP) to ensure institutional coherence, safeguard workers’ rights, and unlock real opportunities in artificial intelligence, climate-smart agriculture, and manufacturing for our young population.”
Representing the International Labour Organization, Ms. Vanessa Phala, Country Director for the ILO Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, urged concrete implementation mechanisms:
”A revised plan is only as good as its execution. To bridge the gap for Nigerian youths, NIYEAP 2025–2030 must feature clearly defined institutional responsibilities, robust financing models, and measurable accountability. The success of this strategy relies on sustained commitment across government institutions, the private sector, and social partners.”
Addressing the participants, Mr. Meke Ugwuogu, Director overseeing Enterprise Development and Promotion at the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, reiterated the emphasis on quality and inclusion:
”Our focus extends beyond creating temporary job numbers; we are building a framework for sustainable livelihoods. This consultation ensures that marginalized young people, particularly those in rural communities and informal sectors, are not left behind as we address labour market mismatches.”
Sectoral Alignment focuses on job creation within the digital economy, AI, renewable energy, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Policy Coherence Integrates youth action plans directly into the overarching National Employment Policy 2025 and the National Development Plan. It establishes targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, young women, and informal sector workers to ensure equitable access to finance and training.
An accountability framework will set clear implementation timelines, financing strategies, and monitoring systems across all involved Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The stakeholder validation process will conclude in the coming weeks ahead of the formal presentation of the NIYEAP 2025–2030 framework to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
