President Muhammadu Buhari

By Taiwo Okanlawon

The Presidency has listed about 16 initiatives established by President Muhammadu Buhari in his 5 years in office as part of his goodwill for the Nigerian youths.

Among the initiatives are N-Power, NYSC monthly allowance, the 75 billion Naira Nigeria Youth Investment Fund, the Special Public Works Programme, the $20 million Fund for Nigerian Tech Innovators and Entrepreneurs, among others.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in an article he entitled, ‘Lest we forget: Opportunities for young Nigerians by the Buhari administration,” compiled 16 initiatives of the President for the youths.

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According to him, Buhari has always had youths as the centrepiece of his administration’s policies.

According to him, “N-Power: 500,000 enrolled in 2 batches between 2016 and 2020 receiving 30,000 monthly, with enrollment of the 3rd batch of 400,000 in progress.

“NYSC Monthly Allowance increased from N19,600 to N33,000; more than 300,000 beneficiaries monthly.

“75 billion Naira Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), for businesses owned by young Nigerians aged between 18 and 35.

“Special Public Works Programme to provide 3-month employment to 774,000 young Nigerians across the country (1,000 beneficiaries per LGA).

5. $20 million Fund for Nigerian Tech Innovators and Entrepreneurs, managed by BOI.”

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He also mentioned the National Young Farmers Scheme and the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS).

Others are the “Creative Industries Financing Initiative (CIFI); DEEL – D – Digital Skills E – Entrepreneurship E – Employability L – Leadership.

Others are the NESP-Homes, the 5M Solar Connections Programme, the Energizing Education Programme, EEP, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES), the Annual National MSME Awards, the National Survival Fund, and the 52% of loans disbursed by the FG-owned Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) in 2019 were to youths and women-owned businesses.