FG Launches Youth Registration Initiative for Skills Mapping

The Federal Government has initiated a nationwide registration for Nigerians aged 15 to 35 with the National Youth Data Bank (NYDB), aimed at identifying their skills, needs, and locations to connect them with opportunities in both public and private sectors. The launch took place on Tuesday in Abuja, led by the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande.

He emphasized that the registration would encompass youths from both formal and informal sectors, including agriculture, sports, and technology. The initiative is intended to provide reliable data to help the government understand the youth population better and improve youth program planning.

Otunba Oluyinka Akerele, Managing Director/CEO of POGMA Nigeria Limited, the project's technical partner, stated that registration points would be established across educational institutions and local government areas. Enumerators will be deployed to register youths, including those in hard-to-reach areas.

The registration is aligned with the Nigerian Youth Policy and aims to continuously update the database as new eligible youths emerge.