Forum appeals for more budgetary allocation for youth development

The National Youth Stakeholders Forum (NYSF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to increase budgetary allocation for youth development.

The forum called for a 25 percent increase in such budgetary allocation in the 2025 fiscal year.

The Chairman of the NYSF, Dogo Shagari, and its Secretary General, Olufowobi Desmond, made the call during the inauguration of its National Executive Council (NEC) and unveiling of NYSF’s sectarian in Abuja.

According to the forum, the increase is critical as it will go a long way in rescuing 60 percent of Nigerian youths from the streets.

“It will empower them through targeted programs in the second and third quarters of the year.

“We commend President Bola Tinubu for his steadfast commitment to youth inclusion, exemplified by the appointment of young Nigerians to strategic roles in his administration.

“The bold step underscores his dedication to empowering the younger generation,” they said.

The NYSF leaders also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his timely call for a National Youth Confab.

“This initiative represents a historic opportunity for Nigerian youth to come together to discuss and address critical national issues.

“As a body with widespread reach and credibility, the NYSF is ready to serve as the vanguard voice for youth ahead of the confab.

“We encourage all young Nigerians to actively participate in this significant event, as it provides a platform to shape policies and programs that reflect their aspirations,” they said.

They promised to ensure that discussions and resolutions from the confab were preserved and implemented for the betterment of the country.

They also appreciated the Minister of Youth, Olawande Wisdom, for his “open-door policy” of promoting collaboration and inclusivity and pledged the commitment of NYSF to work with the ministry for more youth development initiatives.

The forum’s leaders also urged all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to prioritise youth-focused initiatives in their budgetary allocations.

They further called on the Ministry of Youths to appoint liaison officers across all MDAs and parastatals to monitor and ensure the implementation of youth-focused initiatives and programmes.

They said that the framework would play a pivotal role in addressing youth unemployment, reducing restiveness, and fostering national stability and progress.

They also commended the founder and national leader of the NYSF, Aare Hassan, for his visionary leadership in establishing and stabilising this forum.

“His dedication has provided a unified platform for Nigerian youth to collaborate, innovate, and champion positive change.

“The NYSF is a conglomerate of all youth interest groups in Nigeria, established as a common front to strategically advance the plight and aspirations of Nigerian youths,” they said.

The NYSF urged all Nigerian youths to join the forum via its website: www.nysf.com.ng “. (NAN)