By Adetunji Isaac
Abuja,
Recently, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, embarked on a four-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as part of ongoing efforts to deepen global partnerships for youth development in Nigeria.
This landmark visit featured engagements with senior government officials, industry leaders, technology innovators, and global stakeholders. While diplomatic visits often yield various agreements, this particular mission stands out for its strategic outcomes—focused not just on paper promises, but on actionable frameworks poised to significantly enhance human capital development for Nigerian youth.
The Minister’s first engagement was with His Excellency Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi, UAE’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. Discussions centered on building partnerships in education, digital skills, entrepreneurship, and youth exchange programmes. Both parties expressed strong commitment to empowering young people through tangible, sustainable initiatives.
Hon. Olawande also met with His Excellency Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Talks focused on creating opportunities for Nigerian youth within the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector and the rapidly growing gig economy.
Agreements from this session emphasized collaboration in artificial intelligence education, talent development, startup incubation, and knowledge exchange—key components of Nigeria’s broader goal of driving digital transformation through AI in employment, innovation, education, and governance.
One of the most impactful outcomes of the visit was the formalization of a strategic partnership with GITEX Global—one of the world’s foremost platforms for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Under this collaboration, jointly spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth Development and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), led by Dr. Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, hundreds of Nigerian youth will have the opportunity to participate in the prestigious GITEX event scheduled for September 1–4, 2025.
Through this platform, 300 promising startups from across Nigeria will be selected to gain global visibility, access international partnerships, and receive support for scaling their innovations. The event aims to showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youth on a global stage.
Through NiYA—the Nigerian Youth Academy launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over 7 million young Nigerians are being trained in digital skills and entrepreneurship. To date, more than 210,000 participants have been onboarded, with Green House Centres set to be launched in all 774 local government areas across the country.
As part of the GITEX partnership, the GITEX Youth Local Showcase Series – Powered by NiYA will be introduced. This initiative aims to connect young Nigerian innovators directly to global tech ecosystems, including GITEX Africa and GITEX Global.
The Minister also engaged with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, a major hub for youth enterprise development in the UAE. Discussions focused on joint initiatives in incubation, innovation, and youth-led enterprise development—particularly within the framework of NiYA.
Further engagements took place at Alef Education and Hub71—two global institutions renowned for driving innovation through technology.
At Alef Education, the focus was on personalized, AI-powered learning and how it can accelerate NiYA’s mission to deliver high-quality digital education. At Hub71, the Minister was inspired by the vibrant startup ecosystem and discussed collaborations around providing Nigerian youth-led startups with access to global capital, mentorship, and innovation exchange programmes.
The visit culminated in a strategic engagement with the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), a global thought leader in innovation and future readiness. During this meeting, Hon. Olawande presented Nigeria’s youth development framework, highlighting the government’s vision of a future-ready ecosystem that equips young Nigerians with critical skills in AI, robotics, and the digital economy.
Both parties agreed to explore joint initiatives that link Nigerian youth to global innovation networks and co-develop forward-thinking programmes focused on youth empowerment and leadership.
As a mark of honour, the Nigerian delegation received VIP access to Dubai’s Museum of the Future—an iconic venue typically booked out for years. Remarkably, Hon. Olawande became only the fourth Nigerian minister ever granted access. He was also presented with a limited edition torus-shaped artifact—the 37th in the series, symbolizing his age. The gesture was personally approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.
Reflecting on the visit, the Minister said, “This visit reinforces our mission to connect Nigerian youth with the future—not as bystanders, but as architects of innovation, leadership, and global relevance.”
The Nigerian youth development blueprint under the Renewed Hope Agenda is firmly anchored in ensuring that all young Nigerians—regardless of background—have access to initiatives that drive personal growth, career advancement, and national development.
The UAE visit marks a significant milestone, and more such engagements are anticipated in the near future. With dynamic leaders like Comrade Ayodele Olawande at the helm, the Ministry of Youth Development is not only repositioned but is actively delivering on President Tinubu’s transformative agenda for Nigeria’s youth.
The gains from this visit are expected to unfold rapidly over the coming months, consolidating the progress made in the last two years and unlocking new frontiers for youth empowerment across the nation.
Adetunji Isaac writes from Abuja
