Federal Ministry of Youth Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flutterwave to advance youth empowerment, mentorship, and access to start-up funding.
The signing ceremony, presided over by the Minister of the ministry, Ayodele Olawande, was attended by senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya.
In the partnership, the ministry and Flutterwave will launch initiatives to equip young Nigerians with essential digital skills, mentorship opportunities and access to funding for start-ups.
A key aspect of the collaboration will see Flutterwave streamlining stipend disbursements for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, ensuring faster, more efficient financial access.
This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his eight priority pillars, which emphasise job creation, youth empowerment and economic growth.
The Director of Legal Services at the Ministry, Mr Ernest Ezebilo, underscored the partnership’s significance in equipping Nigerian youths with the tools they need to succeed.
Flutterwave co-founder and CEO, Olugbenga Agboola, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to leveraging technology to create sustainable opportunities for young Nigerians.
He emphasised that the collaboration would help to build a robust support system for aspiring entrepreneurs and job seekers. Olawande lauded Flutterwave’s role in advancing youth-focused initiatives, describing the partnership as a pivotal step toward realising President Tinubu’s vision for youth empowerment.
He highlighted the involvement of key agencies under the ministry, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Citizenship & Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), in implementing the programmes.
On support for small businesses, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has partnered with Flutterwave to provide micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with advanced digital payment solutions, improved access to financial services, and capacity-building programmes.
This partnership will enable MSMEs to accept various payment methods, including mobile wallets, card payments and bank transfers while gaining access to working capital loans and credit facilities to foster business sustainability. Director-General and CEO of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, noted that the collaboration would strengthen the agency’s mission to help Nigerian businesses compete more effectively in the global market.