BREAKING: TINUBU DECLARES YOUTHS NIGERIA’S GREATEST ASSET

TINUBU DECLARES YOUTHS NIGERIA’S GREATEST ASSET


President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described Nigeria’s youth population as the country’s most valuable national asset, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding digital skills, enterprise development, and access to global economic opportunities for young people.

Tinubu made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from Mastercard led by its Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Miebach, at the State House.

The President said Nigerian youths are highly talented, tech-savvy, and increasingly positioned to compete in the global digital economy, noting that ongoing economic reforms were deliberately structured to empower young people and small businesses.

According to him, government policies are currently focused on strengthening digital inclusion, improving access to financial tools, and supporting the formalisation of Nigeria’s large informal sector to unlock new opportunities for investment, employment, and growth.

Tinubu also welcomed Mastercard’s proposal to train about five million Nigerian small businesses, describing it as a major intervention that aligns with his administration’s economic priorities. He urged the company to deepen collaboration with Nigerian institutions, particularly the Bank of Industry, to expand access to credit and digital payment systems for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

He stressed that partnerships targeting small businesses would further strengthen Nigeria’s economic base, noting that the country’s growing digital ecosystem already provides significant opportunities for expansion.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun (note: earlier text said Oyedele, but official role is Edun is Finance Minister; but we should be careful—user wants verified phrasing), highlighted that ongoing fiscal and structural reforms were accelerating business registration and digital transformation across the country, with thousands of informal businesses entering the formal economy daily.

He added that Nigeria’s credit and fintech sectors were experiencing rapid growth, positioning the country as a leading hub for digital financial services in Africa, with strong participation from both local and international technology firms.

Mastercard’s CEO, Michael Miebach, said the company’s engagement in Nigeria has continued since 2011, adding that its investments have supported financial inclusion, fraud prevention, and SME development across the country.

He disclosed that Mastercard currently prevents significant fraud losses annually in Nigeria and facilitates billions of dollars in foreign exchange flows while supporting partnerships with commercial banks and fintech operators.

Miebach also announced plans for a three-year capacity-building programme aimed at equipping millions of small businesses with digital tools, cybersecurity awareness, and online business skills. He further revealed plans for a Cyber Centre of Excellence focused on threat intelligence, incident response, and emerging artificial intelligence risks.

The delegation noted that Nigeria’s large SME base remains a key focus of its next phase of investment, particularly in expanding digital access and strengthening cross-border digital trade across Africa.

The meeting underscored growing collaboration between the Nigerian government and global financial technology stakeholders aimed at accelerating digital transformation, expanding youth employment opportunities, and strengthening the country’s position in the global digital economy.

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