FG UNVEILS CIRCULAR ECONOMY YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE TO DRIVE JOBS AND CLIMATE ACTION

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development, in partnership with SAMU Technology and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), has launched the Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative (CEYEI), a bold program designed to tackle unemployment, boost economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability. The initiative aims to raise a new generation of Nigerian innovators, entrepreneurs, and nation-builders.

Director, Information & Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Omolara Esan, in a statement, said the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described the program as a landmark achievement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Omolara Esan further stated that the Minister highlighted the flagship Waste to Wealth Project, which seeks to transform waste into valuable, eco-friendly products while creating sustainable green jobs for Nigerian youth.

Through this program, young people will gain practical skills, mentorship, and access to green technologies, along with opportunities to showcase their innovations in both local and international markets. A dedicated Waste to Wealth online platform has also been launched to serve as a hub for registration, networking, investment access, and market expansion. “At the heart of the initiative is the flagship Waste to Wealth Project, which seeks to transform waste into valuable, eco-friendly products while creating sustainable green jobs for Nigerian youth,” Omolara Esan quoted the Minister as saying.

The Minister also highlighted complementary programs of the Ministry, including the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), ongoing digital literacy initiatives in partnership with NITDA, and the launch of “YO! Health”, a new mental health and wellness hub. Additionally, the rollout of the Youth Cred Scheme, in partnership with Credit Core, will expand access to loans for young people and lay the foundation for a Youth Bank, MSME Incubator, and National Innovation Hub.

Omolara Esan said the Minister emphasized that CEYEI will be implemented nationwide, covering all 36 states and more than 774 local government areas, with inclusivity at its core, ensuring equal access to opportunities for young people across regions and backgrounds. The Honourable Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Yusuf Sununu, noted that Nigeria faces a humanitarian crisis affecting over 3 million people, with a global funding gap of $36 billion, and urged stakeholders to invest in youth-led waste-to-wealth initiatives.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, stated that CEYEI is designed to harness the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian youth, enabling them to turn discarded materials into sustainable livelihoods. Blessing Ekwere, representing the President of RAN, described CEYEI as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to making young people not just beneficiaries of development, but drivers of change.