The Federal Government has launched the National Youth Data Bank (NYDB) and is urging all Nigerians aged 15 to 35 to register, describing it as a vital tool to map youth skills, locations, and needs across the country. The initiative was officially launched on Tuesday, September 30, 2026, in Abuja by the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande.
Minister Urges Youth to Embrace Registration
Speaking at the launch event, Olawande emphasized that the database would enable the government to direct opportunities in both the public and private sectors to the right people. He noted that registration would capture young Nigerians across formal and informal sectors, including those working in agriculture, sports, creative industries, and technology.
"We also want to get the formal and the informal youth to make sure that they are part of this. We want everybody. We even want to know the youth in agriculture. We want to know the youth in sport. We want to know all those in creative tech and all that, so that even when we say some people need jobs, we know, okay, these people need skills," Olawande said.
The minister clarified that the NYDB is a long-term government programme and was not introduced for any electoral purpose. He argued that dependable youth data would close the information gap between the government and the country's young population, making programme planning and delivery more effective.
How the Registration Will Work
Otunba Oluyinka Akerele, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of POGMA Nigeria Limited, the technical partner on the project, revealed that registration points have already been established in secondary schools, polytechnics, universities, and colleges of education. Plans are underway to extend coverage to local government areas and ward levels across the country.
Akerele said enumerators will be deployed to all 774 local government areas, including hard-to-reach communities, to ensure no eligible youth is left out of the exercise.
"All we appeal to our youth to do is to embrace the programme, go out en masse and be registered. It is only when you are registered that we know who you are, where you are, and how you can benefit from the supposed government dividend of democracy," he said.
Age Bracket and Updates
Akerele explained that the age bracket of 15 to 35 years follows Nigeria's National Youth Policy definition. He added that the database will be updated regularly to capture those who have not yet reached the minimum age.
"For those who are not up to 15, that's why you have an update, just like you have with INEC. Once they are 15, our enumerators are there to capture them," Akerele said.
Meanwhile, the federal government has also launched a new phase of its NPRDS programme in Ibadan, training 200 people and distributing 500 devices in Oyo state. A presidential aide revealed the national goal is to lift five million Nigerians out of poverty within four years through skills and entrepreneurship. The 10-day programme includes artificial intelligence training, makeup artistry, and other vocational skills for beneficiaries across the state.
