FG Launches ‘Youth Innovate Naija’ Initiative, Partners CIML and Mind the Gap TV to Empower Young Nigerians

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, has signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership Nigeria and Mind the Gap Television to launch programmes aimed at empowering young Nigerians and promoting innovation.

The agreements will drive the implementation of the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative, a national programme designed to unlock the innovative potential of Nigerian youths and support them in becoming entrepreneurs, innovators, and key drivers of national development.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Maryam Keshinro, who represented the Minister of Youth Development,
Ayodele Olawande, described the initiatives as strategic platforms to harness the creativity and energy of young people.

Keshinro noted that Nigeria’s large youth population presents a unique opportunity for national transformation, adding that many brilliant ideas generated by young Nigerians often remain underfunded or disconnected from pathways that convert innovation into viable enterprises.

She explained that the Youth Innovate Naija Initiative will provide a national platform where youths—both students and non-students—can present ideas, develop prototypes, receive mentorship, and connect with investors and industry partners.

The programme will focus on key sectors critical to national development, including agriculture, renewable energy, digital technology, healthcare innovation, smart infrastructure, and the creative economy.

As part of the partnership, Mind the Gap Television will also produce a youth-focused YouTube programme titled “The Youths Are Here,” aimed at amplifying youth voices and showcasing innovative ideas and development initiatives across Nigeria.

Stakeholders described the collaboration as a major step toward promoting youth-led startups, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and attracting investment into Nigeria’s growing youth-driven economy.