Presidency targets unemployed youths in new skills drive to tackle insecurity

The Presidency is expanding vocational training and entrepreneurship programmes to reduce unemployed youths’ vulnerability to recruitment by criminal networks, as the Federal Government seeks to tackle insecurity through economic empowerment.

Dr Abiola Arogundade, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (TVEE), disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with the President’s Special Adviser on Homeland Security, Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka A. Famadewa (retd.).

The meeting focused on collaboration between both offices to create employment opportunities, promote sustainable livelihoods and address the socioeconomic factors contributing to insecurity.

Arogundade said the partnership would strengthen efforts to empower citizens, expand awareness and provide opportunities for youths to engage in productive activities rather than crime.

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“Through these collective efforts, we aim to steer them away from crime and criminality while fostering a safer, more enlightened, and empowered society,” she said.

Both presidential aides acknowledged the need to complement military and law enforcement operations with education, vocational training and economic inclusion, particularly for vulnerable young people.

Under the proposed partnership, the TVEE office would work to reduce the vulnerability of unemployed and economically disadvantaged youths to criminal groups that exploit poverty, limited opportunities and social exclusion.

Famadewa emphasised the importance of a comprehensive approach to security that addresses the underlying socioeconomic drivers of crime alongside conventional security operations.

His office is also focused on coordinating intelligence and surveillance, strengthening border security, improving the identification of security threats and establishing effective protocols for reporting and responding to crises.

The proposed collaboration forms part of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to link skills development, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities with national security and long-term stability.