UNDP Delegation Visits Nasarawa State to Forge Partnerships in Youth Empowerment

A delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has concluded a three-day working visit to Nasarawa State. The fact-finding mission aimed to identify areas of collaboration with government agencies to empower youth in the state.

The visit, coordinated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involved engagements with key stakeholders from the public and private sectors. The goal was to pinpoint needs that align with UNDP's objectives for potential intervention.

The delegation toured several key sites, including:

· The Wing Commander Abdullahi Vocational and Skills Acquisition Institute in Lafia.

· The Nasarawa State Information Technology and Digital Economic Agency (NASITDEA).

· The Dangote Sugar Plantation in Tunga, Awe Local Government Area.

At each location, the team met with agency and company heads to discuss collaborative opportunities.

Leading the UNDP delegation, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, Abubakar Murtala Mohammed, explained that the mission was to gather first-hand information on activities driving youth skills acquisition in the state.

“UNDP is committed to building a robust synergy with state agencies, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment and agriculture,” Mohammed stated. He added that the visit allowed the delegation to assess the state-of-the-art training equipment, enabling UNDP to determine where interventions would be most effective.

Following the tour, the delegation and stakeholders met at the office of the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government. There, the UNDP team leader, Mr. Muyiwa Odele, expressed satisfaction with the achievements and modern equipment he witnessed across the various agencies.

He commended Governor Abdullahi A. Sule’s administration for placing the state on a pedestal of development. Odele urged the state's youth to enroll in various skills acquisition centers to gain relevant training for self-development and the state's growth.

“A certificate is good, but a skill is the best path to self-sufficiency,” Odele emphasized.

The UNDP Team Leader for Energy, Environment, and Climate Change also advocated for a comprehensive database of the state's youth to help attract interventions from international donors. He additionally called for regular tree planting initiatives to combat climate degradation.

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