The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has charged the management and staff of the Ministry to move beyond organising programmes and focus on delivering measurable results that will make a tangible difference in the lives of Nigerian youths.

Olawande gave the charge on Wednesday in Abuja while declaring open the 2026 Annual Ministerial Retreat of the Ministry.

The retreat was themed: “Consolidating Youth Development Priorities: Delivering Results, Strengthening Partnerships and Expanding Impact.”

The Minister said the gathering provides an opportunity to assess the Ministry’s performance, identify areas requiring improvement and agree on practical measures to strengthen youth development outcomes across the country.

According to him, the success of the Ministry should not be measured by the volume of programmes and events organised, but by the number of lives transformed.

“Instead, we should assess ourselves by the lives we’ve changed,” Olawande said.

He stressed that government interventions must be evaluated based on their ability to create jobs, equip young people with skills, expand business opportunities and improve access to funding and markets.

“The Ministry of Youth Development exists for one major reason, to serve the Nigerian youth,” he said.

The Minister said planning must connect with budgeting, budgeting with action, and action must produce measurable results.

He also highlighted the recently launched National Youth Data Bank, saying reliable and comprehensive data on young people would provide a stronger basis for evidence-based decision making, policy formulation and programme implementation.

“When the Ministry has the right information, we can make better decisions, because better information gives us better policy. But policy gives us better programs, and better programs should improve the lives of our young people,” he stated.

Olawande called for stronger and more result-oriented partnerships, urging the Ministry to assess collaborations based on their contributions to job creation, skills development, entrepreneurship and other opportunities for young people.

He said the retreat should culminate in clear decisions on priorities, responsibilities, timelines, partnerships and measurable indicators of success.

In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, represented by the Director of Human Resources, Olaniepekun Adebayo, said the retreat provides an opportunity for the Ministry to review its performance and develop practical measures for delivering better results for Nigerian youths.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to working with the Ministry, particularly in advancing skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and the gainful engagement of Nigerian youths.