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.
Shuaib Boni Aliyu Umar Saro Ibrahim Abdullahi Nnazua Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen Talaka Parapo Halimat Yusuf Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia Kwara NIPR Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory Abdulrahman Onikijipa Saliu Ajibola Ajia Elerinjare-Ibobo Borgu 2017 Budget PharmAccess Foundation New Nigeria People’s Party Mohammed Abduraheem Elections ASUU Veterinary Teaching Hospital Olokoba Sulyman Abdulmajeed Wahab Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak Obayomi Azeez Tunde Kazeem Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Abdulmumini Jawondo Fareedah Dankaka Sebastine Obasi Abdulkadir Jimoh Trade Lenda SME Fair Abdulazeez Uthman Sheu Ndanusa Usman The Herald Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu Al-Adaby Idowu Aremu Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi Garba Idris Ajia Salihu Alhaji Musa Fulani Abdulkareem Alabi Ahmed Bolaji Nagode FERMA Garuba Alikinla Shittu Tosin Saraki Aliyu Adebayo Offa Poly Muhammed Abdullahi NIRSAL Code Of Conduct Tribunal Kolo Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi Arik NIPR Taofik Mustapha Senate Wahab Isa Presidential Election Yusuf Olaolu Ali Omu-aran Abubakar Usman Jos AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi Sherif Sagaya Oluwole Dupe Bola Olukoju Gbemisola Oguntimehin Sulu Babaita Isiaka Kumbi Titilope Mukhtar Shagaya Ekweremadu Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa Iqra Books ENetSuD Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road Ilorin Anchor Men And Women