By Ajibola Fowowe
Minister Of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has emphasized the importance of mental health for Nigerian youths as the basis for excellence, and national productivity.
He made this known in Abuja at the launch of the Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative (CEYEI) . On Thursday, 21st August, 2025.
He urged Nigerian youths to embrace creativity by turning waste into wealth, stressing that this would not only generate income but also promote environmental cleanliness and sustainability.
Highlighting various initiatives of the ministry, Olawande listed the Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), which focuses on youth protection and capacity building; digital literacy programmes in partnership with NITDA; “YO! Health,” a new mental health and wellness hub; the Youth Cred Scheme in partnership with Credit Core, aimed at expanding access to loans for young people; as well as plans for a Youth Bank, MSME Incubator, and National Innovation Hub.
He also stressed that the CEYEI, developed in partnership with the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN), were designed to tackle unemployment, drive economic growth, and promote environmental sustainability. According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Nigerian Climate Change Act 2021, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Olawande, disclosed that interested youths would receive training, mentorship, access to green technology, and market opportunities through the initiative. A new Waste-to-Wealth website has also been launched to serve as a platform for registration, investment, and global market access.
He further emphasised the need to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to reflect the realities of current generations, particularly Gen Z and Millennials. The minister added that the initiative would be rolled out across all 36 states and 990 local government areas.
