The federal government says the full roll-out of the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP) will commence in February 2026.
This announcement was made during YEIDEP’s end-of-year meeting in Lagos, which gathered key financial partners, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and service providers involved in the initiative.
Comrade Kennedy Iyere, the program’s organizer, stated that YEIDEP, which began in late 2024, has completed its planning and system development phase and is now ready for a large-scale launch aimed at achieving tangible results for young Nigerians.
He explained that YEIDEP, executed by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in partnership with the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), focuses on empowering youth economically and de-radicalizing them through targeted interventions that address unemployment and social vulnerability.
In his progress report, Iyere, highlighted the program’s achievements in 2025, including expanded partnerships, enhanced funding coordination, and improved implementation structures.
He mentioned that the meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress made, discuss challenges faced, and align stakeholders on priorities for the upcoming year.
Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, praised the partners for their support and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to economic and social initiatives focused on youth.
Olawande emphasized that ongoing collaboration with the private sector and development partners is essential for achieving a lasting impact.
He mentioned that the previous year was intentionally focused on planning, coordinating with stakeholders, and onboarding beneficiaries, highlighting that thorough preparation is essential for successful implementation.
Olawande revealed that YEIDEP would be rolled out in phases, starting with an initial goal of reaching 20 million beneficiaries.
He noted that approximately 12 million young Nigerians have already been registered and onboarded with verified account information.
He stated that the remaining 8 million beneficiaries would be onboarded by the end of the first quarter of 2026, completing the initial phase, while preparations for a second phase would begin around mid-year.
The minister clarified that the program aims to encourage youth involvement throughout the agricultural value chain, emphasizing that beneficiaries will not be restricted to just primary farming activities.
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He explained that the initiative would allow young people to participate in farming, marketing, processing, and trading of agricultural products based on their interests and skills, as part of efforts to enhance food systems and create sustainable livelihoods.
Olawande further explained that financial assistance for beneficiaries would be provided as grants, not loans, with a minimum of ₦500,000 allocated as start-up capital for each participant.
He stressed that the funds are meant to help young Nigerians establish viable agri-based businesses and do not require repayment, framing this approach as a strategic investment in youth productivity rather than a welfare program.
“The implementation phase in 2026 is anticipated to signify a shift from planning to delivering impact, with the program set to contribute to job creation, youth entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic growth,” the minister stated.
