List Of All Ministers Of Youth Development In Nigeria (2007-Present)
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development in Nigeria was set up in 2007 during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s time in office.
The main goal of the ministry is to support young people in Nigeria by helping them develop skills, find jobs, and improve their overall well-being.
The ministry works to create programs and policies that benefit the youth and encourage their participation in national development.
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List Of All Ministers Of Youth Development In Nigeria (2007-Present)
| Minister | Term | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Akinlabi Olusunkanmi | 2007-2010 | PDP |
| Bolaji Abdullahi | 2010-2012 | PDP |
| Inuwa Abdulkadir | 2012-2013 | PDP |
| Boni Haruna | 2014-2015 | PDP |
| Solomon Dalung | 2015-2019 | APC |
| Sunday Dare | 2019-2023 | APC |
| Jamila Bio Ibrahim | 2023-Present | APC |
Who Was The First Minister Of Youth In Nigeria?
Akinlabi Olasunkanmi was the first Minister of Youth Development in Nigeria, serving from 2007 to 2009. He was appointed during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration when the Ministry of Youth Development was established.
Akinlabi Olasunkanmi was born in March 1956 in Nigeria. He pursued his education in Nigeria and then continued his studies abroad. However, Olasunkanmi had a career in politics and business.
As the Minister of Youth Development, he focused on creating policies that would empower young Nigerians and address their needs.
During his time in office, he worked on developing youth programs, including initiatives aimed at job creation and skills training. Even before he was appointed as a minister, Olasunkanmi was known for advocating for youth issues.
He worked on projects that sought to engage young people in national development and encouraged their participation in governance.
He was instrumental in establishing the National Youth Council of Nigeria, which serves as a platform for youth representation in national matters.
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Who Is The Current Minister Of Youth In Nigeria?
The current Minister of Youth in Nigeria is Jamila Bio Ibrahim. She took office on October 16, 2023, under President Bola Tinubu. Jamila Bio Ibrahim had a notable career as a medical doctor, development specialist, and politician.
She was born on February 7, 1986, and she is the daughter of Ibrahim Bio, who was a former Minister of Transportation and the Minister for the National Sports Commission during the administrations of former Presidents Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.
Jamila’s educational journey began at NEPA Staff School in New-Bussa, Borgu LGA, Niger State. She then attended Federal Government Girls’ College in Bwari, Abuja, where she completed her secondary education in 2002.
Bio went on to earn a degree in medicine (M.B.B.S) from the University of Ilorin in 2010. To further her education, she completed a six-month course on health management and leadership at the University of Washington in 2017.
She served as the president of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF), a group focused on empowering young women in Nigeria. Also, she worked as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Jamila Bio Ibrahim founded the Yon Seno Foundation in November 2017. This non-governmental organization aims to improve the lives of people through various development projects.
She has been active in national policy as well. In 2017, she was part of the National Policy Summit think-tank and also volunteered on the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2019, she served as the secretary for the subcommittee on health, women’s affairs, population, and environment for the transition committee of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
In May 2024, as the Minister of Youth, Jamila Bio Ibrahim announced the approval of N110 billion for the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund.
This fund, in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, was to provide loans and support services to startups and early-stage businesses run by young people in Nigeria.
This initiative is designed to help young entrepreneurs gain access to the capital they need to grow their businesses and create jobs. Jamila Bio Ibrahim’s role as Minister of Youth involves overseeing policies and programs that benefit the youth of Nigeria.
