The Federal Government has initiated steps to formally recognise Youth Work as a profession, as part of its broader strategy to institutionalise youth development.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, made this known on Tuesday during a stakeholder workshop in Abuja, themed “The Nexus between Professionalisation of Youth Work and the Demographic Dividends.”
Olawande said the initiative draws on best practices from countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia, where youth work is a structured profession with qualifications, regulatory bodies, and career paths.
He stated that Nigeria would replicate this model by anchoring the professionalisation process on three pillars: Professional Ethics and Competency, Academic Pathways, and Robust Regulatory Frameworks.
Olawande, who enrolled as a pioneer student in the programme, also announced the adoption of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) Diploma curriculum as the foundation for training.
Permanent Secretary, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, noted that youth workers had long been undervalued and stressed the importance of certification and licensing to validate their expertise.
He said the education pathway would span from certificate to doctoral levels, with the University of Abuja’s (now Yakubu Gowon University) postgraduate programme serving as the cornerstone.
Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Patricia Lar, praised the initiative, calling it a milestone that bridges policy, academia, and practice. She hinted at an upcoming high-level meeting to launch the framework.
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa, said the move aims to institutionalise youth work through a system grounded in knowledge, evidence, and professional standards.
