Olawande: New Youth Data Bank Will Drive Targeted Interventions, Opportunities
Oru Leonard
Minister of Youth Development has said that the new National Youth Data Bank (NYDB), will drive targeted interventions and opportunities.
The strategic initiative is designed to strengthen evidence-based planning, improve policy formulation and enhance the delivery of targeted youth development programmes across Nigeria.
The initiative was launched on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development as part of efforts to improve the identification, profiling and connection of young Nigerians with relevant opportunities in employment, skills development, entrepreneurship, internships and digital programmes.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, said the success of the National Youth Data Bank would depend on sustained collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), state governments, educational institutions, development partners, private-sector organisations, civil society groups and youth organisations.
Olawande stressed that the initiative goes beyond the collection and storage of information, explaining that its broader objective is to ensure that reliable youth data is translated into meaningful opportunities and measurable development outcomes.
He said the platform would strengthen government’s ability to identify emerging needs, design targeted interventions and connect young Nigerians with opportunities relevant to their skills, aspirations and circumstances.
According to the Minister, the Data Bank would also improve the visibility of young people who may be underrepresented in existing datasets, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities.
He emphasised the importance of inclusion, privacy and responsible data management, noting that Nigerian youths have diverse circumstances shaped by geography, gender, educational background, economic status, disability, location and access to infrastructure.
Olawande said robust safeguards would be required to protect personal information and ensure the accuracy and responsible use of data entrusted to the system.
He described the vision of the initiative as:
“Know the Youth, Understand the Youth, Connect the Youth and Empower the Youth”, saying it would support the Federal Government’s broader agenda on youth empowerment, job creation, skills development, digital transformation and human capital development.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, represented by the Director, Human Resources, Olaniepekun Akinwumi Adebayo, described the National Youth Data Bank as a significant milestone in youth development planning.
She said credible information on the educational and skills profiles, employment status, entrepreneurial interests, locations, aspirations and vulnerabilities of Nigerian youths would be critical to effectively harnessing the potential of the country’s youthful population.
According to her, the Data Bank would provide an important platform for evidence-based policymaking, effective targeting of programmes, monitoring and evaluation, as well as improved coordination of youth development initiatives.
Keshinro added that the platform would support government institutions, development partners, the private sector and researchers in designing interventions that respond more effectively to the realities and aspirations of Nigerian youths.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, Senator Adeyemi Raphael Adaramodu, represented by the Clerk of the Committee, Dr. Ijeoma Chilean, described the initiative as a significant step towards a more responsive, inclusive and evidence-based approach to youth development.
He said reliable information on Nigeria’s young population would support effective legislation, policy formulation, resource allocation and the design of targeted interventions.
Adaramodu commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, POGMA Nigeria Limited and other stakeholders for their commitment to the development and implementation of the National Youth Data Bank.
The National Youth Data Bank is expected to serve as a central and structured platform for youth-related information, providing stakeholders with better insights into the demographic characteristics, skills, aspirations, needs and opportunities of young Nigerians.
The initiative is also expected to improve coordination among institutions and enable government and development partners to design and implement more targeted youth development programmes.
The Ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Omolara Esan, issued the statement on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Cover Photo Caption: The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, unveiling the National Youth Data Bank (NYDB), alongside other stakeholders in Abuja.
