By Zakari Haruna Isah
Kano, Nigeria – January 15, 2026
A major federal youth program is targeting the economic integration of 20 million young Nigerians by April 2026, its National Coordinator announced Thursday, framing the initiative as a critical step to defuse national insecurity driven by unemployment and frustration.
Comrade Kennedy Iyere, head of the Youth Economic Intervention and Deradicalization Program (YEIDEP), stated that 13.5 million youths have already registered nationwide, with enrollment projected to potentially reach 35 million.
The YEIDEP strategy focuses on providing "economic belonging" through a combination of financial support and skills training, aiming to equip participants to launch sustainable ventures.
“De-radicalization is making young people less restive, making them cool-headed,” Iyere explained in an interview. He argued that radicalization stems largely from “frustration and hopelessness” due to poverty and economic exclusion, not ideology.
Iyere warned that Nigeria is a “tinderbox,” with a labor market unable to absorb roughly 4 million new entrants yearly. He linked widespread underemployment—including graduates taking low-skilled jobs—directly to rising banditry and insurgency.
“If youths are not given the opportunity to contribute positively to the economy, they will find a way to do that negatively,” he stated.
The coordinator also criticized governance failures, alleging that many state governments have stifled local job creation by withholding funds from local councils. He described YEIDEP as a vital “last hope” to prevent a national crisis and called for greater youth representation in government.
Iyere urged media support to raise awareness, emphasizing that the program’s success is essential to securing the nation’s future.
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