Amid intensifying calls for nationwide protests, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development calls for applications for the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF).
Nigerians, mainly youths, have lamented the hardship in the country since President Bola Tinubu was sworn in on May 20, 2023.
With protests set for August 1, the ministry of youth development announced that the N110 billion fund is “dedicated to empowering youth in priority sectors to drive economic growth.”
In a statement on its official X handle, the ministry urges youths to “apply now to avail yourself of this huge opportunity and take your business to new heights.”
The tweet, which comes close to a year since the X handle published an announcement, made many allege that the announcement is a clandestine ploy by the president Bola Tinubu-led federal government to dissuade youths from joining the August 1st nationwide demonstrations.
Reacting to the ministry’s calls for the application, an X user, Iweagu Chinedu, asked, “This is their first post of the year. Is it because of protest that you people drafted this investment fund?”
Adebayonle Samad too said, “The last time this handle posted anything before today was December 2023.”
Victor shared the same sentiments when he said, “Everybody is doing the needful because of protest; even NNPC that could not employ for like 23 years just started. You can just tell what these guys are up to.”
“NNPC posted job openings after donkey years yesterday. Almost all the ministers and some APC governors gathered themselves like sardines in one X space to tickle their fancy. Now, this?,” CG Onuks queried.
However, Nigerian youths stated their intentions of applying for the funds but mentioned that they will still protest.
Noting that the “plan to distract” people from protesting “will not work,” Gwen Divy Ifeson said, “every ministry is now posting jobs and funds. We will collect. We will still protest.”
It will be recalled that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Friday announced that it is recruiting as talks of a nationwide demonstration intensifies.
