Tinubu’s Reform Opening New Pathway for Youths, Says Information Minister

By Daniel Ebi, Minna

 The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said that the ongoing reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration are opening new and sustainable pathways for Nigerian youths to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.

The minister stated this on Saturday, while delivering the 2026 Convocation Lecture at the 34th Convocation Ceremony of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, held at the Gidan Kwano Campus, Niger State.

Speaking on the theme “Youth and Nation Building: Navigating Opportunities in an Era of National Reforms,” Idris described Nigeria’s youthful population as a strategic asset that must be properly empowered through education, skills development, and inclusive economic policies.

He noted that Nigeria is currently undergoing one of the most ambitious reform phases in its history, driven by the political will and vision of President Tinubu, adding that the reforms are deliberate steps aimed at correcting longstanding structural challenges in the economy.

According to him, major policy decisions such as the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign exchange unification, and the implementation of new tax laws are already restoring investor confidence, improving transparency, and creating a more stable business environment.

The minister explained that the reforms have begun to attract renewed interest from both domestic and foreign investors, leading to expanding opportunities across critical sectors including technology, agriculture, energy, and the creative industry.

He further highlighted several youth-focused initiatives of the Tinubu administration, including the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said has enabled hundreds of thousands of students to access tertiary education through affordable, long-term financing.

Idris also referenced other empowerment programmes such as technical and vocational training schemes, startup support initiatives, and youth-friendly credit facilities, stressing that these interventions demonstrate the government’s commitment to rewriting Nigeria’s youth narrative.

While acknowledging public scepticism borne out of past experiences, the minister urged young Nigerians to actively seek out and engage with the opportunities created by the reforms, noting that “opportunities only deliver results when they are deliberately pursued.”

He advised graduating students to embrace lifelong learning, leverage technology responsibly, build strong professional networks, and consider public service as a viable avenue for nation-building.

The minister concluded by charging the graduands to see themselves as builders of Nigeria’s future, adding that meaningful contributions to national development can begin from any level and at any stage of life.

Welcoming the Lecturer, the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Professor Farouk Adamu Kuta said the Minister was carefully chosen to deliver the convocation lecture due to his vast experience and knowledge in private and public administration over the year.