The National Coordinator of the Youth Economic Intervention and Deradicalization Program (YEIDEP), Comrade Kennedy Iyere, announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026, that the federal initiative is targeting the economic integration of 20 million Nigerian youths by April to mitigate rising social restiveness and national insecurity.
Speaking in an interview in Kano State, Iyere revealed that 13.5 million young people have already registered for the scheme across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He projected that total enrollment could reach 35 million as the program expands its reach.
Program Objectives and Strategy
The YEIDEP is designed as a federal intervention platform to provide youth with "economic belonging" through a combination of financial support and technical training. According to Iyere, the program aims to equip participants with the skills and capital necessary to launch productive ventures and secure sustainable livelihoods.
Iyere, who described himself as a "philanthropine"—an entrepreneur who reinvests business proceeds into social empowerment—emphasized that the program’s "de-radicalization" component is rooted in economic and social inclusion rather than military force.
"What is de-radicalization? It is making young people less restive... making them cool-headed," Iyere stated. He argued that radicalization in Nigeria is primarily driven by "frustration and hopelessness" stemming from poverty and exclusion from the national economy.
Economic and Security Context
The National Coordinator warned that Nigeria is currently a "tinderbox" due to a non-productive labor market that absorbs approximately 4 million new youths annually without providing viable employment. He noted that many graduates are forced into underemployment, citing instances of PhD candidates working as ride-share drivers.
"If [youths] are not given the opportunity to contribute positively and meaningfully to the economy, they will find a way for themselves to do that negatively," Iyere said, linking unemployment to the rise in banditry and insurgency.
Governance Challenges
During the interview, Iyere criticized the current state of local governance, alleging that many state governments have "pocketed" local government funds despite Supreme Court rulings granting them autonomy.
He claimed this lack of local funding has stifled job creation at the grassroots level, leaving the federal YEIDEP initiative as a critical "last hope" to prevent a national crisis.
Iyere also called for greater youth representation in governance, noting that many officials presiding over youth affairs are well beyond the 18-to-35 age bracket.
The program coordinator urged the media to support awareness efforts, stating that the success of the intervention is essential to saving the nation's youths ".