FG, UNICEF Begin Fresh Plan To Tackle Youth Unemployment As Nigeria Reviews 2030 Jobs Strategy
By Iroyin Yoruba Television News Desk
The Federal Government, working with the United Nations Children’s Fund and other development partners, has begun a fresh nationwide effort to reshape Nigeria’s approach to youth employment as authorities review the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan (NIYEAP) and prepare an updated framework aimed at improving access to decent work, skills, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
The latest stage of the review entered a new phase in Kano, where stakeholders from the North-West, North-East and North-Central geopolitical zones gathered for a two-day regional consultation on the future of Nigeria’s youth-employment strategy.
The consultation is taking place against the background of persistent concerns over unemployment, underemployment, limited access to market-relevant skills, difficulties faced by young people transitioning from education into work and the challenge of providing enough productive opportunities for Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development is leading the process in collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners.
The objective is not simply to produce another government policy document.
Officials and development partners are seeking to review what has worked, identify weaknesses in previous interventions and determine what should change as Nigeria prepares a new youth-employment framework extending toward 2030.
The process is particularly important because the labour market is changing rapidly.
Young Nigerians are entering a world in which traditional employment is being transformed by digital technology, artificial intelligence, automation, the green economy, online work, new business models and changing patterns of international trade.
The government therefore faces the challenge of preparing young people not only for the jobs that exist today but also for occupations and economic opportunities that are likely to become increasingly important in the coming years.
WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS REVIEWING NIYEAP
The Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan was originally developed as a coordinated national response to the country's youth-employment challenge.
Its approach was broader than simply creating government jobs.
The plan was designed around areas including employability, entrepreneurship, employment, and equity and rights, with the aim of improving both the supply of skills and the availability and quality of jobs.
The original framework recognised that youth unemployment cannot be solved by one ministry or one programme.
Education institutions produce graduates.
Training organisations develop skills.
Businesses create jobs.
Financial institutions provide capital.
Government creates policies and infrastructure.
Development partners provide technical and financial support.
Young people themselves participate as workers, entrepreneurs and innovators.
If those parts of the system operate separately, the results can be limited.
The current review is therefore designed to bring the different stakeholders together and create a more coordinated strategy.
The government wants the revised framework to reflect changes in the labour market and respond to the needs of young Nigerians across different parts of the country.
NORTHERN STAKEHOLDERS JOIN THE PROCESS
The Kano consultation is particularly important because it brings together stakeholders from three major northern geopolitical zones.
These include the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions.
The consultation follows an earlier southern regional engagement held in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders from the South-West, South-East and South-South zones examined the future of the youth-employment strategy.
The southern consultation was similarly focused on developing an employment framework that is more inclusive, market-driven and responsive to emerging labour-market trends.
The decision to organise consultations by geopolitical zones is significant because Nigeria's employment challenges are not identical everywhere.
The economic opportunities available to a young person in Lagos may be very different from those available to someone in Kano, Borno, Adamawa, Niger, Plateau or another state.
Different parts of the country have different economic structures.
Some have strong agricultural economies.
Others have large commercial markets.
Some have growing technology sectors.
Others have significant manufacturing, mining, tourism, energy or maritime opportunities.
A national policy therefore needs to recognise regional differences while maintaining common national objectives.
THE GOVERNMENT WANTS A MORE MARKET-DRIVEN APPROACH
One of the key themes emerging from the review is the need to connect training more directly to actual employment opportunities.
For years, governments and organisations across Nigeria have implemented skills-acquisition programmes.
Young people have been trained in tailoring, catering, agriculture, computer operations, phone repairs, welding, beauty services, automobile repairs and numerous other trades.
Such programmes can be useful.
However, training by itself does not guarantee employment.
A young person can complete a six-month course and still struggle to find customers, access equipment or obtain financing.
This is why the current review is placing greater emphasis on the connection between skills and the labour market.
The objective is to determine what employers actually need and then design training programmes around those needs.
That approach could reduce the gap between what young Nigerians learn and what businesses require.
SKILLS WITHOUT JOBS ARE NOT ENOUGH
The challenge is especially important for graduates.
Many young Nigerians spend years obtaining university, polytechnic or college qualifications.
After graduation, they may discover that employers require practical experience, digital skills, communication abilities, technical knowledge or other competencies that were not sufficiently developed during their education.
This creates a difficult transition from school to work.
The young person has a qualification but may not yet be considered employable for many positions.
The government and its partners want the revised employment strategy to address this transition.
The aim is to make young people more prepared for employment while also increasing the number of actual opportunities available.
That second part is critical.
Nigeria cannot solve youth unemployment simply by training more people.
If the economy does not create enough jobs and businesses do not expand, additional training may simply produce more qualified job seekers competing for the same limited positions.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP MUST ALSO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
Nigeria's youth-employment strategy is also placing importance on entrepreneurship.
Not every young person will find a salaried job.
Some may create their own businesses.
Others may become freelancers.
Some may build technology startups.
Others may operate farms, manufacturing businesses, retail enterprises, creative businesses or professional services.
Entrepreneurship can therefore provide an alternative route into employment.
But entrepreneurship programmes also need to move beyond simply distributing certificates.
A person who receives entrepreneurship training but has no access to finance, customers, equipment or business support may still struggle.
Successful entrepreneurship programmes generally require several components.
Training is one.
Access to finance is another.
Market access is also important.
Mentorship can help.
Digital tools can improve productivity.
Reliable electricity and transportation can reduce operating costs.
Business registration and regulatory systems need to be accessible.
The revised NIYEAP will therefore need to consider the entire business ecosystem rather than treating entrepreneurship as a short training exercise.
WOMEN MUST NOT BE LEFT BEHIND
UNICEF has specifically highlighted the need for the revised strategy to address inequalities affecting young women.
Young women can face barriers that are different from those experienced by young men.
These can include limited access to finance, restrictions on mobility, unpaid care responsibilities, lack of digital access and social expectations that affect participation in the labour market.
In some communities, girls may also have fewer opportunities to complete education or acquire technical skills.
The development partners involved in the NIYEAP review have therefore argued that young women should have equitable access to employment, entrepreneurship and skills opportunities.
This is important for economic development.
When women earn incomes, they can contribute directly to household welfare.
Women-owned businesses also create employment and economic activity.
Giving young women access to skills and finance can therefore have effects beyond the individual beneficiary.
YOUTHS WITH DISABILITIES
The review is also expected to pay attention to young people living with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities can face additional barriers in the labour market.
Some workplaces may lack accessibility.
Training centres may not be properly equipped.
Digital platforms may not always be designed for people with different accessibility needs.
Employers may also have misconceptions about the capabilities of people with disabilities.
A comprehensive youth-employment strategy therefore needs to consider accessibility from the beginning rather than treating inclusion as an afterthought.
The objective should be to ensure that qualified young people are able to participate in the economy regardless of disability.
RURAL YOUTHS ALSO NEED OPPORTUNITIES
Nigeria's youth population is spread across urban and rural communities.
Employment policy cannot focus only on major cities.
Young people in rural areas face their own challenges.
These may include poor transportation, limited electricity, weak internet connectivity, inadequate training centres and difficulty accessing finance.
Agriculture remains a major economic activity in many rural communities.
But modern agricultural employment increasingly requires skills in mechanisation, irrigation, processing, logistics, marketing, data management and digital technology.
The revised youth-employment strategy could therefore connect agricultural development with skills development.
Instead of viewing agriculture only as subsistence farming, young Nigerians could be trained for opportunities throughout the agricultural value chain.
That includes production, storage, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing and export.
AGRICULTURE AS A SOURCE OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
Agriculture has the potential to absorb large numbers of young Nigerians if the sector becomes more productive and commercially attractive.
However, many young people do not want to enter agriculture under traditional conditions.
They may be more interested in modern farming businesses that use machinery, technology and commercial markets.
This means government programmes need to modernise the image and structure of agricultural employment.
Young farmers need access to land.
They need finance.
They need modern equipment.
They need reliable markets.
They need extension services.
They need storage.
They need transport.
And they need information about prices.
If these conditions improve, agriculture could become a major source of decent employment.
AGRO-PROCESSING CAN CREATE MORE JOBS
One of the strongest opportunities may lie in agro-processing rather than primary agriculture alone.
Nigeria produces large quantities of agricultural commodities, but some are exported or sold with limited processing.
Processing can create additional value.
A farmer producing cassava, for example, can sell raw cassava.
But processing businesses can convert agricultural products into flour, starch, animal feed and other products.
The same principle applies to cocoa, tomatoes, rice, fruits, vegetables and other commodities.
Agro-processing creates jobs for machine operators, technicians, packaging workers, transporters, marketers and other professionals.
It also creates opportunities for entrepreneurs.
The revised youth-employment strategy is therefore expected to consider value chains rather than simply counting the number of people trained.
DIGITAL WORK IS CHANGING THE JOB MARKET
Another major area of attention is digital employment.
The internet has created opportunities for Nigerians to work for companies and customers outside their immediate communities.
Young people can provide services in areas such as software development, graphic design, digital marketing, customer support, accounting, animation, content production and other professional services.
Remote work can also allow a Nigerian living outside a major commercial centre to serve customers in Lagos, Abuja or another country.
However, digital employment requires reliable internet access and appropriate skills.
It also requires payment systems that allow Nigerian freelancers and businesses to receive international payments efficiently.
The government therefore needs to connect youth employment policy with broader digital-economy policy.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS CHANGING EMPLOYMENT
The rise of artificial intelligence presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
AI can improve productivity.
It can help businesses automate repetitive tasks.
It can support customer service.
It can assist researchers.
It can improve data analysis.
It can help farmers make decisions.
It can support educational platforms.
But AI may also change the demand for certain types of labour.
Some routine jobs could become increasingly automated.
Young Nigerians therefore need to develop skills that complement rather than compete directly with emerging technologies.
The southern consultation specifically identified artificial intelligence and digital work among emerging opportunities that the revised strategy should address.
This means Nigeria's youth-employment policy needs to be forward-looking.
It cannot simply prepare young people for today's jobs.
It has to anticipate how work will change over the next decade.
THE GREEN ECONOMY
The transition toward cleaner energy and environmentally sustainable production is also creating new employment possibilities.
Nigeria's energy sector is changing.
Solar power is expanding.
Businesses are investing in energy-efficiency solutions.
Waste management and recycling are becoming increasingly important.
Electric mobility is attracting attention.
Climate adaptation is creating demand for new services.
Young people could potentially participate in these emerging sectors.
Training programmes could focus on solar installation, energy management, recycling, environmental services and other green-economy activities.
The revised employment plan is therefore expected to consider the green transition as an important source of future jobs.
MANUFACTURING STILL MATTERS
Technology should not cause policymakers to overlook traditional industries.
Manufacturing remains important because factories can create large numbers of direct and indirect jobs.
Nigeria has significant opportunities in food processing, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, building materials, consumer goods and other sectors.
However, manufacturing depends heavily on infrastructure.
Electricity costs can affect competitiveness.
Transportation costs can increase the price of raw materials.
Financing can be expensive.
Businesses can also face regulatory challenges.
The youth-employment strategy therefore needs to connect job creation with policies that make it easier for businesses to produce goods competitively.
CONSTRUCTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Construction is another sector capable of absorbing skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Nigeria has enormous infrastructure needs.
Roads need to be built and maintained.
Housing demand continues to grow.
Industrial facilities require construction.
Water systems need development.
Renewable-energy infrastructure requires installation.
Railway and transport projects require workers with technical skills.
Training young Nigerians for these industries could create immediate employment opportunities while also helping address national infrastructure needs.
TOURISM AND THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
Tourism and the creative economy also have employment potential.
Nigeria has a large entertainment industry.
Music, film, fashion and digital content have created international visibility for Nigerian talent.
But the wider creative economy includes many other professions.
There are opportunities in event management, photography, animation, fashion production, sound engineering, advertising, design and digital media.
Tourism can also create jobs in hospitality, transportation, catering and cultural services.
A youth-employment strategy that recognises these sectors can provide opportunities for young people whose talents may not fit traditional office employment.
THE MARITIME SECTOR
Nigeria's maritime sector is another potential source of employment.
The country has a long coastline and major ports.
Maritime activities require workers in logistics, shipping, engineering, port operations, customs-related services, vessel maintenance and other technical fields.
Young people with the right training could participate in these industries.
The southern consultation identified maritime activities among sectors with employment potential.
The challenge is ensuring that training institutions have modern equipment and that qualifications are recognised by employers.
OIL AND GAS WILL REMAIN RELEVANT
Although Nigeria is attempting to diversify its economy, oil and gas remain important.
The sector provides employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, environmental specialists, logistics workers and other professionals.
The transition toward gas utilisation and cleaner energy also creates new areas of expertise.
Young Nigerians need training that can prepare them for both existing petroleum-industry opportunities and the changing energy market.
This includes technical skills, environmental management and digital technologies.
THE SERVICES SECTOR
Nigeria's services sector is one of the largest sources of employment.
Banking, telecommunications, retail, healthcare, education, logistics, hospitality and professional services all require workers.
The sector also offers opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Small businesses can provide services to larger companies.
Digital platforms can connect service providers with customers.
The revised youth-employment plan needs to recognise the diversity of the services economy.
THE PROBLEM OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT
Youth employment is not only about whether someone has a job.
The quality of employment matters.
A young person may be working but earning too little to support themselves.
Another may have a university degree but be employed in work that does not use their skills.
Someone else may operate a small business that generates income but remains financially unstable.
These situations are part of the broader problem of underemployment.
The revised NIYEAP is therefore expected to focus on decent work, rather than simply increasing the number of people classified as employed.
The International Labour Organisation describes Nigeria's youth-employment framework as aiming to support decent and freely chosen employment through employability, entrepreneurship and job-creation interventions.
THE NEED FOR BETTER DATA
One of the biggest challenges in youth-employment policy is knowing exactly what is happening in the labour market.
How many young Nigerians are unemployed?
How many are underemployed?
Which skills are employers looking for?
Which sectors are growing?
Which programmes actually lead to employment?
Which training programmes produce little economic value?
Good policy requires reliable answers to these questions.
The revised NIYEAP therefore needs strong monitoring and evaluation.
Government should not simply count how many young people attended training.
It should track what happened afterward.
Did they find jobs?
Did they start businesses?
How much income did they generate?
How many businesses survived after one year?
Did employers consider the skills relevant?
Those measurements can help government invest in programmes that actually work.
FINANCING WILL DETERMINE SUCCESS
One of the most important questions surrounding the revised employment strategy is financing.
A policy without adequate funding can become another government document that produces limited results.
The International Labour Organisation currently lists Nigeria as having public funding for its youth-employment strategy, institutional responsibilities and a monitoring framework, but also notes that the strategy information does not show an indicative implementation budget.
This highlights the importance of connecting policy ambitions with realistic financial commitments.
If the revised NIYEAP identifies thousands of programmes but government agencies do not receive the resources required to implement them, results will remain limited.
Financing should therefore be transparent and connected to measurable outcomes.
PRIVATE SECTOR MUST BE INVOLVED
Government cannot create enough jobs on its own.
Private businesses employ millions of Nigerians.
They understand changing market conditions.
They know which skills are difficult to find.
They also know which sectors are expanding.
Private-sector participation should therefore be central to the revised employment strategy.
Businesses can help design training curricula.
They can provide apprenticeships.
They can offer internships.
They can recruit graduates.
They can support entrepreneurship programmes.
They can also provide information about emerging skills.
EMPLOYERS SHOULD HELP DESIGN TRAINING
One way to reduce the gap between education and employment is to involve employers in training design.
If technology companies say that graduates lack practical software-development skills, training programmes can respond.
If manufacturers need technicians, training institutions can develop technical programmes.
If logistics companies need workers with supply-chain skills, those skills can be integrated into vocational programmes.
This approach makes training more responsive to actual economic demand.
YOUTH PARTICIPATION IS CENTRAL
The government and UNICEF have emphasised that young people should not be treated simply as beneficiaries.
They should participate in designing the policies that affect them.
This is important because young Nigerians understand barriers that government officials may not see.
A graduate who has spent two years searching for employment may understand the problems with recruitment systems.
A young entrepreneur may know exactly why access to finance is difficult.
A rural youth may understand infrastructure barriers.
A young woman may know how social restrictions affect her ability to work.
A young person with a disability may identify accessibility barriers that policymakers overlooked.
Including those voices can improve policy design.
GENERATION UNLIMITED AND THE WIDER YOUTH AGENDA
The NIYEAP review is part of a wider ecosystem of youth-development initiatives involving the Federal Government, UNICEF and other partners.
UNICEF has previously reported that Generation Unlimited Nigeria had reached more than 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, providing access to digital skills, employment pathways and civic-engagement opportunities.
The initiative has a target of reaching 20 million young people by 2030.
That scale demonstrates the size of the challenge and the potential impact of coordinated youth programmes.
It also shows why the government is increasingly looking for partnerships rather than attempting to operate every programme independently.
WHY THE 2030 TARGET MATTERS
The year 2030 is significant because it provides a medium-term horizon for evaluating whether current policies are working.
Young people who are entering the labour market today will still be economically active in 2030.
The jobs available then may be very different from today's employment opportunities.
Technology will continue to change.
Climate-related industries may expand.
Digital services could become more important.
Manufacturing may change through automation.
Remote work may become more common.
The skills required by employers will evolve.
A strategy designed around 2030 therefore needs flexibility.
It must be capable of being updated as economic conditions change.
A NATIONAL STRATEGY MUST REACH STATES
Employment is not created only in Abuja.
States and local governments play important roles.
They operate education systems.
They support agriculture.
They regulate local businesses.
They manage infrastructure.
They attract investors.
They implement training programmes.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has therefore called for stronger involvement from state governments and State Youth Employment Action Committees in the revised framework.
This is essential.
A national plan that does not translate into state-level action will have limited impact.
WHAT THE STATES CAN DO
State governments can identify sectors with the greatest employment potential in their territories.
One state may have opportunities in agriculture.
Another may have strong manufacturing potential.
A coastal state may focus on maritime industries.
A tourism-rich state may develop hospitality and cultural industries.
States can also work with local businesses to establish apprenticeship programmes.
The Federal Government can provide national coordination while states adapt implementation to local conditions.
THE NORTH'S PARTICULAR CHALLENGES
The northern consultation is especially important because several northern states face severe economic and social challenges.
Insecurity has disrupted economic activity in some communities.
Young people may have limited access to education and formal employment.
Rural communities may lack infrastructure.
Displacement can interrupt education and skills development.
These factors make employment policy particularly important.
Providing young people with legitimate economic opportunities can contribute to household income and social stability.
Employment alone cannot solve insecurity.
But economic exclusion can contribute to vulnerability, while productive opportunities can give young people alternatives.
SKILLS CAN SUPPORT SOCIAL STABILITY
Young people who have access to productive livelihoods are more likely to have the resources needed to support themselves and their families.
This does not mean unemployment automatically causes crime or insecurity.
Most unemployed young people do not become involved in criminal activities.
However, severe economic exclusion can create vulnerability.
A comprehensive youth strategy can therefore contribute to broader social resilience.
Skills training, entrepreneurship, education and employment can give young people stronger economic prospects.
THE IMPORTANCE OF START-UP CAPITAL
Training without capital remains a major obstacle.
A young person may learn tailoring but have no sewing machine.
Someone may learn phone repair but lack tools.
A trained farmer may lack irrigation equipment.
A trained caterer may lack commercial kitchen equipment.
An aspiring digital entrepreneur may not have a suitable computer or reliable internet.
The revised employment strategy therefore needs mechanisms that connect training with finance and equipment.
This could involve grants, loans, equipment support, private investment or other financing models.
However, financing programmes also need strong monitoring to prevent abuse.
NOT EVERY YOUTH NEEDS THE SAME PROGRAMME
A major advantage of a data-driven employment strategy would be the ability to match young people with different pathways.
One person may need vocational training.
Another may need an apprenticeship.
A graduate may need work experience.
An entrepreneur may need financing.
A technology worker may need advanced certification.
A person with a disability may need an adapted training environment.
Treating all young people as one group can reduce programme effectiveness.
The revised strategy should therefore offer multiple pathways.
FROM POLICY TO RESULTS
The biggest test facing the government will be implementation.
Nigeria has produced many policies over the years.
Some have achieved meaningful results.
Others have struggled because of funding, coordination, changes in government or weak monitoring.
The current review provides an opportunity to learn from those experiences.
A revised NIYEAP should have clear targets.
It should identify responsible institutions.
It should establish timelines.
It should specify funding.
It should provide measurable outcomes.
And it should allow the public to assess progress.
WHAT SUCCESS SHOULD LOOK LIKE
Success should not simply mean that millions of young people attend training programmes.
A successful strategy should produce measurable improvements.
More young people should move from education into employment.
More businesses should survive.
More young people should access decent work.
Youth incomes should improve.
Employers should report better access to skilled workers.
Women and persons with disabilities should have greater participation.
Rural youth should have more economic opportunities.
Digital and green sectors should absorb more workers.
Those are the types of outcomes that can demonstrate whether the strategy is working.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NIGERIA
Nigeria's youth population is often described as a challenge.
But it can also be one of the country's greatest economic advantages.
A large young population means a large potential workforce.
It means millions of consumers.
It means a huge pool of entrepreneurs.
It means creative talent.
It means technological potential.
But population becomes an economic advantage only when people have opportunities to develop and use their skills.
Without education, health, infrastructure and employment, a large youth population can create enormous pressure on the economy.
The revised NIYEAP is therefore important beyond employment policy.
It is part of Nigeria's broader development strategy.
CONCLUSION
The Federal Government and UNICEF have begun another major phase in Nigeria's effort to tackle youth unemployment as stakeholders from northern Nigeria participate in the review of the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan.
The consultation in Kano brings together stakeholders from the North-West, North-East and North-Central regions as the government works on an updated youth-employment framework aimed at improving employment outcomes toward 2030.
The process follows a similar consultation held in Port Harcourt for the southern geopolitical zones, where stakeholders called for a more inclusive and market-driven employment strategy capable of responding to changing labour-market conditions.
The significance of the review goes beyond the creation of another government policy.
Nigeria faces a complicated youth-employment challenge involving unemployment, underemployment, skills gaps, limited access to finance, weak school-to-work transitions and unequal access to economic opportunities.
Young Nigerians are also entering a labour market that is changing rapidly.
Artificial intelligence is transforming occupations.
Digital work is creating new possibilities.
The green economy is producing emerging industries.
Agriculture is becoming increasingly technology-driven.
Manufacturing is evolving.
The services sector continues to expand.
The creative economy is becoming more commercially important.
A successful youth-employment strategy must therefore prepare young people for this changing environment.
The government's current approach recognises that training alone is not enough.
A young person may acquire a skill and still remain unemployed if there is no market for the skill, no access to equipment, no finance and no customer base.
That is why the revised framework needs to connect skills, jobs, entrepreneurship, finance and markets.
It must also ensure that young women, persons with disabilities, rural youths and other vulnerable groups are not excluded.
UNICEF has specifically called for these inequalities to be addressed in the revised strategy and has urged stakeholders to prepare young Nigerians for opportunities in artificial intelligence, digital work, the green transition and emerging regional business models.
The role of the private sector will also be critical.
Government cannot employ Nigeria's entire young population.
Businesses must create a substantial proportion of future jobs.
They should therefore be involved in designing training programmes, providing apprenticeships, identifying skills gaps and creating pathways into employment.
States must also play a stronger role.
Economic opportunities differ from one part of Nigeria to another.
The employment strategy must therefore be national in direction but flexible enough to respond to local realities.
Agriculture and agro-processing may be particularly important in some states.
Manufacturing may dominate others.
Technology, tourism, maritime activities, energy and services may offer stronger opportunities elsewhere.
The government must also address the financing question.
A youth-employment policy without sustainable financing cannot achieve its objectives.
The International Labour Organisation's current information on Nigeria recognises the existence of public funding, institutional responsibilities and monitoring arrangements but also points to the importance of clearly establishing implementation resources.
This means the revised strategy must connect its ambitions to realistic budgets.
It must also measure outcomes.
The number of people trained is not enough.
Government should know how many trainees subsequently found employment, started businesses, increased their income or moved into better-quality work.
That is how programmes can be judged objectively.
Nigeria already has examples showing that targeted skills programmes can change individual lives.
UNICEF-supported vocational initiatives have helped young Nigerians develop skills in areas such as tailoring and other trades, while digital initiatives have introduced young people to technology and entrepreneurship.
The challenge is taking successful approaches and expanding them sustainably.
The revised NIYEAP provides an opportunity to do that.
It also provides an opportunity to correct weaknesses in previous youth programmes.
Instead of treating young people simply as beneficiaries of government interventions, the new strategy can treat them as participants in the economy and partners in policy development.
That means listening to their experiences.
It means understanding why graduates struggle to find work.
It means identifying why businesses fail.
It means asking young women what prevents them from participating fully in the labour market.
It means understanding the barriers faced by rural youths and people with disabilities.
It also means asking employers what skills they actually need.
Nigeria's youth population is too large for employment policy to remain fragmented.
The country needs coordination among federal ministries, state governments, businesses, universities, technical institutions, development partners, financial institutions and young people themselves.
The review of NIYEAP can provide that coordination if it moves beyond consultation and becomes a practical implementation framework.
The ultimate measure will be simple.
Young Nigerians need real opportunities.
They need jobs that provide reasonable incomes.
They need businesses that can survive.
They need access to finance.
They need practical skills.
They need digital opportunities.
They need apprenticeships and work experience.
They need fair recruitment systems.
And they need confidence that their efforts can lead to a better future.
Nigeria's economic future will depend heavily on what happens to its young population.
If millions of young Nigerians can become productive workers, entrepreneurs, innovators and skilled professionals, the country can transform its demographic advantage into economic growth.
If opportunities remain inadequate, unemployment and underemployment will continue to place pressure on families, communities and government.
The Federal Government and UNICEF now have an opportunity to help shape a more credible path forward.
The consultation process in Kano is another step.
The recommendations that emerge from the consultations will matter.
But implementation will matter even more.
Nigeria has already produced youth policies and employment strategies.
The challenge now is to ensure that the revised plan does not remain on paper.
It must be funded.
It must be coordinated.
It must be monitored.
It must involve young people.
It must respond to employers.
And most importantly, it must produce measurable improvements in the lives of young Nigerians.
The country does not simply need more youth programmes.
It needs a youth-employment system that works.
That is the real test awaiting the revised Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan as Nigeria moves toward 2030.
Iroyin Yoruba Television will continue to follow the review of NIYEAP and report on the government's employment, skills-development and entrepreneurship programmes for Nigerian youths.