Are you planning to japa? Have you thought it through? Have you checked and rechecked with Nigerians in Diaspora on what they are going through? Are you following what is happening to migrants in United States of America? Have you seen how the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Police are chasing undocumented migrants around and about US? Are you aware that some Nigerians with valid US visas are being informed recently about the cancellation of their visas? Many countries are now tightening security and border controls and foreigners are usually the prime targets. This year alone, there have been protests against Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana while UK and UAE to mention a few have come up with stringent visa conditions that are not there before. As the saying goes, the grass is always greener at the other side. I will encourage you to think deeply about your emigration plan before it ends in willful regrets.
Nigerian youths, I dare say, if you arm yourself with the requisite knowledge and skills, you can make it here through legitimate hustle and will only need a tourist visa to go abroad on vacation. Yes, on this platform I have severally criticized successive governments for not doing enough to make life better for us in this country. In fact, in my column here last week, I reeled out depressing statistics of our underdevelopment. Am not going to recant on that submission. Today, I bring you good news of sort. The cheery news is about abundant opportunities here that you can take advantage of. However, it’s a two-way thing. As the popular saying goes, “no food for lazy man”.
Let me first disabuse your mind that school is a scam. You need to be educated. No matter your talent. Literacy helps to give you a competitive edge and ensures that you’re not unduly cheated. While it is true that anyone can make money, however, living a good life does not start and end with money. There are many billionaires today who have inferiority complex because they cannot express themselves in good English which is our official means of communication in this country. You can go to a conventional school and earn a degree in whatever discipline. Otherwise, you can be home tutored. In case you do not know, two of Nigeria’s Nollywood thespians, Funke Akindele, better known as Jenifa, and Femi Adebayo, are both lawyers but are making waves as actors and actresses. Folarin Falana better known by his stage name Falz is the son of Femi Falana, SAN. He is making wave as a musician but he trained originally as a lawyer. Davido studied music at Babcock University and graduated even though music gave him fame and fortune. Fela Anikulapo Kuti who originated Afro Beats graduated in music from UK and returned to Nigeria to ply his trade and made his mark. ‘Mathematical’ Segun Odegbami earned fame and fortune as a footballer in Nigeria but he had a Higher National Diploma from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Polytechnic Ibadan.
My appeal, Nigerian youth, is that you first have formal education. Have digital and financial literacy. Have driving and communication skills just as you discover your innate talent. What is or are those things you do easily better than your peers? Are you tech savvy, comical, love sports, and sing like a nightingale? Start to hone your talent from when you’re young. The Jackson Five from which Michael Jackson was the greatest started singing from their pre-teen years. Serena and Venus Williams started playing lawn tennis from their teenage. I was 21 years when I started writing for newspaper in 1990. Today, I have authored three books. Prof. Chinua Achebe wrote his most famous book, “Things Fall Apart” when he was 28 years old. Nigerian youths, believe you me, your early years of life is the most productive and fruitful years. In sports, music, and ICT, you’re better off starting young.
I’m sure many of us are unaware of the numerous opportunities that this Tinubu Administration has on offer for Nigerian youths. Thus, I have taken it upon myself to highlight some of them. Did you know that the 3MTT programme by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy will generate a pipeline of technical talent in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of creating 2 million digital jobs by 2025? The first phase of the programme kicked off in December 2023 with 30,000 fellows selected across all 36 states and the FCT. The fellows went through an intense learning journey that included self-paced online courses and physical applied learning sessions, executed in partnership with 120+ organizations. The second phase of the programme which is ongoing will train 270,00 technical talents in three cohorts of 60,000, 90,000 and 120,000 respectively. The 3MTT programme is executed in collaboration with hundreds of applied learning clusters, state governments, development agencies and other key stakeholders. Go to https://3mtt.nitda.gov.ng/ to learn how to apply.
Under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, there are several initiatives. The Nigerian Youth Academy is committed to empower and train 7 million youth within the next 2 years. NiYA Academy is built to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in today’s fast-changing economy. Through its One Youth, Two Skills initiative, NiYA ensures that every Nigerian youth is empowered with at least two marketable skills that open doors to employment, entrepreneurship, and financial independence. Whether you want to work in tech, business, creative industries, or skilled trades, NiYA Academy provides practical, hands-on training to help you achieve your goals.
FMYD is also distributing 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to young Nigerians. The Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training Programme is a proactive initiative by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. The programme is a decisive step to close Nigeria’s digital skills gap, equipping youth with the tools to secure their futures and drive Nigeria’s digital economy forward. This dual-level training will bridge the skills gap, enhance digital security, and build a youth-driven, data-aware workforce. Check the FMYD website at https://fmyd.gov.ng/ and see the different initiatives you can apply for.
My compatriots, are you aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has established three funds totaling Two Hundred Billion Naira to support businesses across Nigeria? They are namely: The Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme; The FGN MSME Intervention Fund; and the FGN Manufacturing Sector Fund. The Bank of Industry has been appointed as the executing agency of the funds, vested with the responsibility for its day-to-day administration. Check the website of the BoI at https://www.boi.ng/ for further details.
Under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, there are a couple of initiatives that young Nigerians can take advantage of. The N-Power Programme is a job creation and skills empowerment programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria. N-Power is designed to help young Nigerians acquire and develop life-long skills to become practical solution providers in their communities, enabling them to become innovative players in the domestic and global markets. The N-Power programme is for young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35. Under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, there are three loan schemes, namely – Trader Moni, Market Moni, and Farmer Moni, where small loans are given to entrepreneurs. Log on to the Ministry’s website at https://fmhds.gov.ng/programmes/ for more.
The aforementioned are just some of the initiatives at the federal level. Many state governments also have several initiatives and interventions for the youth of the state. Information is power and Nigerian youths should try and listen to news and not spend valuable time just browsing social media for pleasure. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have benefited and still benefiting from all the listed programmes. What have you got to lose if you apply? Remember, anyone who’s afraid of throwing a dice will never throw six. Take action, now!
X:@jideojong
