Nigerian Government, Stakeholders Unite to Promote Online Safety and Youth Innovation at Meta Summit
Oru Leonard
ABUJA, June 25, 2026 — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerian youths through digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and skills development, while promoting a safer and more inclusive online environment.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, made the commitment on Thursday at the Meta Youth Online Safety Summit held in Abuja, where he stressed the importance of equipping young Nigerians with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
According to the minister, youth development remains a key priority of the Federal Government, with strategic investments in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation serving as critical drivers of economic growth and sustainable empowerment.
He said the Ministry is focused on creating opportunities that enable young people to become productive contributors to national development, noting that digital platforms have become essential tools for education, business, communication, and innovation.
Olawande commended Meta and other development partners for supporting youth-focused digital initiatives across Nigeria, highlighting the positive impact digital technologies have had on millions of young people.
“Many young people today rely on digital platforms for education, business, communication, and innovation. We commend Meta for providing platforms and services that have positively impacted the lives of millions of Nigerian youths,” he said.
The minister underscored the importance of online safety, describing it as a shared responsibility that begins at home. He emphasized the role of parents in shaping responsible digital behaviour among children and young people, while noting that government-led digital literacy programmes are designed to complement parental guidance.
He also highlighted ongoing collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Meta, and other stakeholders to expand digital skills training and innovation-driven empowerment programmes for young Nigerians.
According to him, reforms being implemented within the NYSC are aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance among corps members, with the goal of encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
The minister further pointed to the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Academy as part of efforts to equip young Nigerians with the digital competencies required to compete in the global economy. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with Meta and other stakeholders to build a digitally empowered generation.
Speaking at the summit, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Ms. Sade Dada, said the participation of government representatives, industry leaders, civil society organisations, and educators demonstrated the importance of collective action in addressing online safety challenges.
She noted that young people are growing up in an unprecedented digital environment, making discussions around online safety, digital wellbeing, and responsible online engagement more critical than ever.
Dada added that Nigerian youths face many of the same online challenges as their counterparts across the world, underscoring the need for proactive measures that protect and empower them in the digital space.
The summit brought together key stakeholders to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore innovative approaches to promoting online safety while encouraging the positive use of digital technologies among young people.
