FEDERAL MINISTRY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PRESS RELEASE
February 21, 2025
Federal Ministry of Youth Development Partners Flutterwave to Drive Youth Empowerment, Mentorship
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance youth empowerment, mentorship, and access to start-up funding. The signing ceremony, led by the Honourable Minister for Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, included senior officials such as the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya.
Following this agreement, the Ministry of Youth Development and Flutterwave will implement key initiatives that will provide young Nigerians with access to digital skills training, mentorship programs, and start-up funding.
As part of the collaboration, Flutterwave will also streamline stipend payouts for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, ensuring faster and more reliable financial access. This partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his eight priority pillars, with a focus on creating jobs, empowering youth, and driving economic growth across Nigeria.
The Director of Legal Services at the Ministry, Mr. Ernest Ezebilo, highlighted that the collaboration reinforces the Ministry’s mandate to equip Nigerian youth with the tools they need to thrive.
Flutterwave Co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, expressed the company’s commitment to building sustainable structures that will empower Nigerian youth. He reiterated Flutterwave’s dedication to utilising its technology to create sustainable opportunities for young people, ensuring long-term economic impact.
Minister Olawande commended Flutterwave for its role in advancing youth-focused initiatives, emphasizing that this collaboration represents a critical step in fulfilling President Tinubu’s vision for youth empowerment. He noted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Citizenship & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), as key agencies under the Ministry, will play a central role in implementing the initiative.
This partnership directly contributes to achieving the President’s eight priority pillars, which include job creation and economic growth; access to resources to help young entrepreneurs scale their businesses; youth empowerment and inclusivity (expanding access to training and mentorship programs); industrialisation and economic diversification (supporting youth-led businesses to drive innovation); improved access to capital ( creating funding pathways for start-ups); education and skills development( strengthening technical and leadership training); harnessing digital innovation (leveraging technology to create sustainable employment opportunities); strengthening national identity and civic responsibility ( engaging youth through the NYSC and CLTC) and effective public-private sector collaboration ( demonstrating the effectiveness of partnerships in national development).
The Minister concluded by reaffirming that this collaboration with Flutterwave will significantly strengthen the Ministry’s efforts in ensuring a brighter future for Nigerian youth, positioning them as key drivers of the nation’s economic transformation.
Signed
Omolara Esan CM, NIPR
Director (Information and Public Relations)
Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
