The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to youth empowerment and economic inclusion, as preparations accelerate for the full implementation of the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalization Program (YEIDEP) in 2026.
The Government expressed the commitment at YEIDEP's year-end meeting in Lagos, which brought together key financial partners, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and service vendors supporting the programme.
Kennedy Iyer, convener of YEIDEP, which commences in 2024, said the program has completed its planning and systems-development phase and is now ready for large-scale rollout with the aim of delivering measurable results for young Nigerians.
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According to him, YEIDEP, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with Youth Off the Street Initiative (YOTSI), focuses on youth economic empowerment and de-radicalization through targeted interventions aimed at addressing unemployment and social vulnerability.
Presenting the progress report, Iyer, who is also the Coordinator-General of YEIDEP, highlighted the milestones recorded by the program in 2025, including expanded partnerships, better funding coordination and stronger implementation structures.
He said the partnership provided an opportunity to take stock of progress, review challenges faced and align stakeholders on priorities for the coming year.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who graced the event, commended the partners for their support and reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to youth-focused economic and social interventions.
Olawande, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Muhammad Abdullahi, said continued collaboration with the private sector and development partners was important to achieve long-term impact.
He said the past year had been dedicated to deliberate planning, stakeholder coordination and beneficiary engagement, noting that effective preparation was critical for successful implementation.
Olawande disclosed that YEIDEP would be implemented in phases, starting with an initial target of 20 million beneficiaries. He said that out of this number, about 12 million young Nigerians have already registered and joined with verified account details.
He said the remaining eight million beneficiaries would be covered within the first quarter of 2026, completing the first phase, while preparations for the second phase would begin in the middle of the year.
The Minister explained that the program is designed to support youth participation in the agricultural value chain, stressing that beneficiaries will not be limited to primary agricultural activities.
The initiative will enable youth to engage in farming, marketing, processing and trading of agricultural products based on their interests and capabilities as part of efforts to strengthen food systems and create sustainable livelihoods, he said.
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Olawande further clarified that financial assistance to the beneficiaries will be provided in the form of grants rather than loans, with a minimum of N500,000 set aside as start-up capital for each participant.
He stressed that the fund is aimed at helping young Nigerians set up viable agro-based enterprises and is not subject to repayment, describing the approach as a strategic investment in youth productivity rather than a welfare scheme.
“The 2026 implementation phase is expected to mark the transition from planning to impact delivery, with the program contributing to job creation, youth entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth.”
Augusta Warrens, Director, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, underlined the importance of transparency, accountability and effective financial management in the execution of youth programs.
Warren expressed gratitude to stakeholders, financial partners and associates for their support in empowering Nigerian youth to reduce hunger, insecurity and unemployment through food production and job creation.
He said the program has engaged a large number of Nigerian youth with the aim of forming a group in 10 years.
Warren, who also chairs the YEIDEP Finance Committee, said the next level of the program involves implementing the 2026 Action Plan, leveraging established structures and processes.
According to him, the ministry is preparing a campaign for donors to finance the initiative aimed at ensuring gainful employment of Nigerian youths and creating jobs.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Youth and Sports Development, Sani Musa Denja, stressed that the program is aimed at weaning the youth out of drugs and other vices and making them believe in themselves.
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He said that some banks have already captured 300,000, over one million, 1.5 million and almost half a million (500,000) youth, and the next target is to empower them through these banks.
According to him, the first phase of empowerment is expected to be completed by February 2026, in which training and empowerment programs will begin.
Denza expressed optimism about the progress of the programme, saying that everything is happening in phases, and the focus now is on empowering the youth through the banks that have already captured them.
