Kwale: Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat has reaffirmed the government's commitment to youth empowerment through innovative programmes and inclusive policies. Prof. Shaukat urged the youth across the country to embrace the various government empowerment schemes that aim to provide opportunities for a better future. The PS was speaking at the Kwale cultural centre when he led the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project verification exercise.
According to Kenya News Agency, the national government is committed to empowering the youth across the 47 counties and is working on policies and programmes that embrace youth inclusion and engagement in every space and sector of the economy. Prof. Shaukat was accompanied by Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga, Kwale County Commissioner Stephen Orinde, and County Director of Youth Affairs Kent Simiyu. The PS witnessed an impressive youth turnout across all four constituencies of Matuga, Msambweni, Kinango, and Lunga Lunga.
The transformative NYOTA project seeks to improve youth employability, expand employment opportunities, support youth savings through the National Social Security Fund's Haba Haba Informal Sector Savings Product, strengthen youth employment systems, enhance youth entrepreneurship, and provide e-commerce platforms to ensure the sustainability and scalability of businesses. The overarching objective of the NYOTA project, spearheaded by the national government and funded by the World Bank to the tune of Sh15 billion, is to increase employment opportunities, increase earnings, and inculcate a saving culture among the youth.
"The government is giving our youth a lot of opportunities like the NYOTA project, and we want our young people to grab them," he said. PS Shaukat mentioned that 100,000 youth will be supported nationwide with 70 per ward across 1,450 wards, while each beneficiary will receive Sh50,000 for business startups. Prof. Shaukat stated that young people are brimming with potential, dreams, and energy that needs to be tapped by developing their skills to fight unemployment and associated problems.
He emphasized that the government views the youth as catalysts for change and partners in progress, adding that the NYOTA project targets to benefit 820,000 youth aged between 18 and 29 years and up to 35 years for persons with disabilities. He said the NYOTA project demands innovation, responsibility, and courage from the youth for them to build a future that is inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful. Prof. Shaukat stressed that the government is committed to youth development initiatives through the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) that would create opportunities for them.
The BETA is a national strategic initiative to improve livelihoods and welfare through inclusive and sustainable economic growth and is aligned with Vision 2030. BETA focuses on five key pillars: Agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Housing, Healthcare, and the Digital Superhighway and Creative Economy.
On her part, Chidzuga urged the youth to remain hopeful for a better future in view of the government's commitment to implementing various empowerment programs. The Deputy Government Spokesperson said the Kenya Kwanza administration is committed to creating a conducive environment for the youth to thrive economically. "The government will support programmes and projects that seek to maximize the potentials of our youth and accord them opportunities to thrive economically," she said. She urged leaders to continue spreading the word about NYOTA opportunities, noting that the youth must know what opportunities are available before benefiting from it.
Omar Tate, 28, and Fatuma Mbete, 23, who are beneficiaries of the NYOTA project, termed the empowerment programme as one that will transform the youth from job seekers into job creators.