FG, CIMLN sign MoU to promote youth innovation, entrepreneurship nationwide

THE Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership Nigeria (CIMLN) to promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship through the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative.

The agreement, facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, aims to unlock the innovative potential of Nigerian youths by supporting them to develop ideas, build enterprises and contribute to national development.

The ministry also signed a separate MoU with Mind the Gap Television to produce a youth-focused YouTube programme titled “The Youths Are Here,” which will provide a digital platform for showcasing youth voices, ideas and development initiatives across the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Maryam Keshinro, who represented the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, described the initiatives as strategic efforts to harness the creativity and energy of Nigerian youths while connecting them with opportunities for enterprise development.

Keshinro said Nigeria’s large youth population presents a significant opportunity for national transformation if properly harnessed.

READ ALSO: The mental health challenges we rarely talk about: A deep dive into paraphilic disorders

“Across our universities, polytechnics, research institutions and communities, young Nigerians are generating brilliant ideas and developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges,” she said.

She noted, however, that many of these ideas remain uncommercialised or underfunded due to limited access to platforms that can transform innovation into viable enterprises.

According to her, the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative was conceived to bridge this gap by creating a national platform where youths can present ideas, develop prototypes, receive mentorship and connect with investors and industry partners.

She added that the programme will focus on priority sectors critical to Nigeria’s development, including agriculture and food security, renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare innovation, smart infrastructure and the creative economy.

Keshinro described the partnership with CIMLN as strategic, noting that the institute’s expertise in leadership development and management training will strengthen the implementation of the initiative.

“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding signals the beginning of a transformative journey. It demonstrates our collective resolve to move beyond rhetoric and take practical steps toward empowering Nigerian youth to realise their full potential,” she said.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CIMLN Nigeria, Steve Longe, described the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative as a pioneering programme designed to bring together young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds and educational levels under a national platform that promotes innovation and enterprise development.

He said the programme would provide inclusive opportunities for youths in both formal and non-formal education sectors to contribute to national growth through creativity and entrepreneurship.

Also speaking, representative of the Mind the Gap Community and Youth Development Foundation, Tayo Olosunde, emphasised the importance of digital communication in ensuring that youth-focused government initiatives reach a wider audience.

Olosunde said the YouTube programme “The Youths Are Here” would amplify youth voices, highlight innovative ideas and showcase development initiatives led by young Nigerians.

The ministry noted that the initiatives are expected to stimulate youth-driven innovation and entrepreneurship while strengthening national engagement and supporting sustainable economic growth.