The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments to ensure the effective implementation of youth development programmes across the country.
Olawande made the call while hosting the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Prince Niaphen, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office to discuss areas of collaboration and strategies for strengthening youth development initiatives in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
The Minister, who was represented at the meeting by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, stressed that the success of Federal Government youth initiatives depended largely on the support and cooperation of states and local governments.
He said government programmes must be effectively taken to the grassroots to ensure that young Nigerians benefit from them.
“You cannot work at the Federal Ministry without having the sub-nationals support you. If you are doing anything at the national level and the State does not align with it, it will go nowhere,” Olawande said.
The Minister also commended Niaphen for his leadership and commitment to mentorship, describing him as a leader who had consistently invested in grooming others to assume positions of responsibility.
“You are indeed a mentor. You are not like those who go through a post or position and leave without anybody to take over from them. You are grooming others to become like you and maybe even better,” he said.
Olawande further described the Federal Ministry of Youth Development as the appropriate constituency and platform for stakeholders committed to advancing the interests and wellbeing of Nigerian youths.
“This is your constituency as far as youth is concerned. This is where you can call home at the Federal level,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to working closely with state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to thrive.
The Minister expressed confidence in the capacity of Nigerian youths, describing them as “not only creative and innovative, but also resilient.”
He said sustained collaboration across all levels of government remained critical to unlocking the potential of young Nigerians and building a stronger future for the country.
Responding, the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Prince Niaphen, appreciated the Minister for the warm reception and expressed the readiness of the Plateau State Government to strengthen its partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Niaphen said the state remained committed to supporting youth-focused programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering young people, developing their skills and creating opportunities for them to contribute meaningfully to the development of Plateau State and Nigeria.
He said stronger collaboration between the state and Federal Government would help expand opportunities for young people and ensure that youth development initiatives achieve greater impact at the grassroots.