In a significant move towards youth empowerment and job creation, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the extension of the age limit for N-Power enrolment to 40 years.
This decision comes as part of a comprehensive restructuring of the N-Power programme, with the ambitious goal of reaching five million young Nigerians over the next five years. You may also like to read FG rebranded Npower to Renewed Hope Skills Acquisition Programme.
The N-Power programme, which previously limited participation to individuals aged 18 to 35 years, has now widened its scope to encompass those between 18 and 40 years of age.
This expansion reflects the government’s commitment to inclusivity and its desire to engage more young people in meaningful employment.
Dr. Akindele Egbuwalo, the N-Power National Programme Manager, addressed concerns about the temporary suspension of the programme, assuring the public that it was part of a necessary overhaul to accommodate one million beneficiaries each year for the next five years.
This restructuring not only aims to increase the number of beneficiaries but also includes the introduction of new programs previously unavailable under the scheme.
Rasheed Zubair, the Special Adviser to Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, urged Nigerians to understand the rationale behind the temporary suspension and subsequent restructuring. He emphasized that the Federal Government is diligently working to rebuild trust in the N-Power programme.
Zubair stated,
“This restructuring and transformation will also birth an expanded programme to reach beneficiaries aged 18 to 40, the previous age limit was 35. We are targeting five million beneficiaries in five years at a pace of one million yearly under the graduate and non-graduate stream.”
To regain public confidence in the expanded programme, transparency and accountability will be prioritized. Egbuwalo emphasized that the suspension was necessary due to the discovery of irregularities within the program and to facilitate a thorough investigation into its operations over the past 12 months.
Importantly, Egbuwalo assured all genuine beneficiaries that the government would fulfill its obligations and resolve all outstanding cases once the verification exercise is completed. This commitment underscores the government’s dedication to ensuring that no Nigerian suffers due to any misconduct, whether direct or indirect, associated with the N-Power programme.
With these developments, the Federal Government aims to not only extend the age limit for N-Power enrolment but also strengthen the program’s integrity, ultimately providing employment opportunities for five million young Nigerians in the next five years.