The fourth edition of the Youth Opportunity Summit, an initiative supported by the Presidency, took place in Katsina on Saturday, focusing on empowering Nigeria's youth for the digital future. The summit, themed ‘Leveraging Opportunities: Building a Future-Ready Youth’, was organised by Hajiya Hauwa Liman, the Technical Adviser to the Vice President on Women, Youth Engagement and Impact, and founder of the Inspire for Impact Initiative.
Speaking at the summit, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, highlighted the Federal Government's commitment to developing Nigeria’s digital workforce through the 3-Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. He stated that this initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of creating two million digital jobs for young Nigerians. The Minister emphasized the programme’s aim to establish a skilled workforce, positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global digital economy and talent export, particularly to address the impending workforce shortage in Europe due to its ageing population. He stressed the urgency of equipping Nigeria’s youthful population with relevant digital skills to thrive in the evolving global economy. Dr. Tijjani also noted that over 3,000 individuals in Katsina State have already received training under this programme, with plans for further sessions.
The Chancellor of Yar’adua University, Sen. Ibrahim Idah, speaking through the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shehu Salihu, commended the summit as a significant initiative with the potential to positively shape Nigeria’s future.
Earlier, the organiser, Hajiya Hauwa Liman, revealed that the Youth Opportunity Summit has so far reached over 6,500 young people across northern Nigeria, with previous editions held at Bayero University Kano, Kaduna State University, and the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa State. She explained that the summit was conceived with the vision to inspire, equip, and empower Nigerian youths to achieve their full potential through mentorship, entrepreneurship training, leadership development, and educational and professional support. Liman described the summit as "more than an event" but rather "a movement for resilience and preparing our youth for the future," expressing pride in their collective achievements and optimism for the future they are building.
The event also featured engaging activities such as poetry performances, ignite talks, and an indigenous language speaking contest.
