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.
Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission AbdulRahman Saad Folorunsho Alao Gbemisola Saraki Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi Abdulkadir Jimoh Kwarareports Sarakite Ajakaye Ajike People Support Centre Osuwa Hikmah AbdulKareem All Peoples Party Salihu Ajibola Ajia Ojuekun Ibrahim Mohammed HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity Olatunde Jare Bukola Ajikobi Abdulmajeed Abdullahi General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Mahmud Babatunde Baker Aremu Bose Deborah NITDA Omotosho Ogbondoroko Azeez Bello Gobir Organization Foundation Owode Market Kwara Liberation Group Amasa 08001000100 Haruna Olawale Sulaiman Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi Kwara Metro Park Tosin Saraki Mumini Ishola Hanafi Mahfouz Adedimeji Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development Mogaji Aare Jani Ibrahim Charcoal Tunde Oyawoye Sola Saraki Educational Foundation Yakub Lai Gobir Communication Network Support Services Halidu Danbaba Gbajabiamila National Association Of Nigerian Students Oluwatoyin Lukman Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Abdulrazaq Magaji Surajudeen Akanbi Funmi Salau Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla Bello John Olanrewaju Aliyu Kora Sabi Nnazua Adedipe MAI Akande AbdulQowiy Olododo Bibire Ajape Eleja Taiwo Banu Saba Jibril Kwara 2019 Turaki Of Ilorin Adamu Ibrahim Sabi Raji AbdulRasaq Mohammed Ibrahim Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq 20 Billion Bond Budo Egba Oyedepo Irepodun Wasiu Odewale Rebecca Olanrewaju International Vocational Centre