President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim as the first female Minister of Youth and Mr Ayodele Olawande as the Minister for State for Youth pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. The nominee is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF). She has also served as the Senior

This is contained in a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity on Sunday.

According to Mr Ngelale, the nomination of the duo is coming to fill the vacant position for the leader of the ministry of Youth, in the Tinubu administration for the next four years.

In August, President Tinubu swore in 45 ministers into their respective offices but surprisingly left the ministry of youth vacant. This has stirred lobbying from different parts of the country as many stakeholders have suggested different names to the President for the sensitive position.

Describing the Minister nominee, Mr Ngelale stated that “Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF). She has also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, he said.

He further identified the minister of state nominees, Mr. Ayodele Olawande as “a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives’ Congress (APC). He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023.”

He added that the President has charged the nominees “to ensure that they consistently reflect the dynamism, innovative zeal, and unyielding productivity that are synonymous with the young people of Nigeria as they discharge their duties.”

These ministers are expected to coordinate the affairs of the youth in the country especially as Nigeria is facing challenge of unemployment among the youth who have been described as the most populous group of people in the country.