Start-up Act: Abdullahi Calls for Amendment to Include Youth Ministry
Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development and Kwara Central Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for the 2023 election, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has called for the amendment of the recently signed Nigeria Start-up Act to include the Ministry of Youth Development in the council for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
Abdullahi in a statement issued yesterday in Ilorin said without such amendment, the Act would be missing the coordinating power of the youth ministry which is critical to the effective implementation of the new law.
The former minister, while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent to the law, noted that the act would open the country for greater investment in the digital economy, and unleash the huge potential of the youths for greater competitiveness.
Abdullahi, a former editor with THISDAY Newspaper, said: “I commend President Buhari for his assent to the Start-up Act. I am delighted that the country has embraced such legislation at this crucial time when we are at a crossroad on how to boost national productivity.
“This Act has the capacity to unlock the huge potential for entrepreneurship and digital innovation in Nigeria.
“However, I consider the exclusion of the youth ministry from the Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as provided for in the Act as an omission which if not immediately redressed can impair the full implementation of the law.”
Abdullahi added: “I believe this Act is a major step in the right direction, but we know that laws are not enough. What matters ultimately is what we are able to achieve with the law.
“From my experience as a minister, the law would be missing the convening power of the youth ministry, to coordinate, organise and mobilise Nigerian youths who are the frontline players in the digital innovation ecosystem.
“I recall the YOUWIN programme by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, which had a similar objective of promoting entrepreneurship among the youths.
“Although the programme was originally domiciled with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of ICT, the Ministry of Youth Development under my leadership was at the forefront of its implementation by assuming the responsibility of convening, coordinating, mobilising and organising youths across the country for the programme.
“This new Act is a more institutionalised framework, but the objectives are the same. This is why I demand the immediate amendment to the Act, to reflect the critical role of the youth ministry for the successful implementation of the Start-up Act.”
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Abiodun Oyedepo Pacify Labs Summit University ASUU Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations GRA David Oyepinola Adedumoye Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode Kwara NIPR Kwara Pdp Bello Oyedepo Madawaki Yusuf Abubakar SAPZ Project Amina El-Imam Ekiti Apaokagi Ilorin Emirate Staff Association Gani Saadu Onilupeju Of Ilupeju Adedeji Onimago Omotosho TETFUND Isiaka Yusuf Kamaldeen Kehinde Titus Suberu-Ajibola Adedipe Matthew Babaoye Ajuloopin Modupe Oluwole NTA Ilorin Bukola Ajikobi Ilorin Veterinary Teaching Hospital Afonja Salihu Ajia Kolade Solagberu Adamu B. Yaqubu Yahaya Abdulkareem Monthly Sanitation Exercise Aliyu Alhassan Elerin Of Adanla Irese Adamu Attah Afeyin-Olukuta Sarkin Malamai Pius Abioje Sabitiyu Grillo Yusuf Amuda Gobir Mohammed Lawal Bagega Mamatu Abdullahi A.E. Afolabi Charles Ibitoye Sarah Alade KSIRS Ibrahim Abiodun Sidikat Uthman Ajibola Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan Ajeigbe Musa Yeketi Yomi Ogunsola Moshood Bakare ASMAU PLAZA Bilikis Oladimeji CELF Bank Of Industry Olaosebikan Kwara State Pension Board Alao Ayotunde Rapheal Ashaolu Democracy Day Ajikobi Sodiya Bibire Ajape Toyin Abdullahi Gambari Oko Erin