The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has backed Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, over his call for economic policies that would improve the earning capacity and living conditions of young Nigerians.

NYCN Lagos Chairman, Mr Adigun Ibrahim, made the position known in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday, saying the council agreed that stronger incomes were essential to helping young people cope with rising housing and living costs.

Ibrahim said the challenge facing young workers extended beyond employment opportunities to whether their earnings were sufficient to support independent living. He noted that rent and other essential expenses were placing increasing pressure on young people whose incomes had not kept pace with the cost of living.

Hamzat had argued that improving the economy should include creating conditions that allow citizens, particularly young people, to earn more. He also pointed to the reliance of many young workers on parents and relatives for accommodation, especially at the early stages of their careers.

According to the deputy governor, controlling the cost of essential goods and services should be part of efforts to improve living conditions. The comments highlight the connection between household purchasing power and access to housing, particularly for workers attempting to establish independent households.

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Ibrahim said NYCN welcomed the emphasis on affordability but stressed that assistance from family members should serve as a temporary support system rather than a substitute for economic and housing policies that enable young people to live independently.

The council called for greater investment in affordable housing, improved wages, decent employment and economic programmes targeted at young people. It also advocated wider access to housing finance to help young workers obtain decent accommodation without placing excessive pressure on their incomes.

The issue has broader implications for Nigeria’s housing sector because housing affordability is closely tied to income levels and access to finance. Even where housing supply exists, workers may struggle to secure suitable accommodation when rents, transport costs and other household expenses consume a large share of their earnings.

For the mortgage and housing finance market, the NYCN position also points to the importance of creating financing options that reflect the realities of younger workers. Access to suitable housing finance can be difficult when income is low or unstable, limiting the ability of many potential buyers to transition from renting to homeownership.

Ibrahim said policies should not require young Nigerians to reduce their ambitions because of economic constraints. Instead, he argued that government and other stakeholders should work toward an economy in which young people can earn enough to pursue independent lives and meet basic needs.

The NYCN chairman commended Hamzat for connecting discussions about youth welfare with earnings, housing and broader economic conditions. He also reaffirmed the council’s willingness to work with the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders on measures aimed at improving economic opportunities and living conditions for young Nigerians.

The wider significance of the discussion lies in the relationship between employment, income and housing affordability. For Nigeria’s growing young population, sustainable access to decent housing will depend not only on increasing housing supply but also on creating economic conditions that give workers the purchasing power and financing capacity to afford it.

The post NYCN Backs Hamzat on Youth Earnings, Affordable Housing appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Enugu State Government has allocated land in the state capital for the establishment of a Digital Fabrication Centre by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) as part of efforts to strengthen technical skills, innovation and local manufacturing.

Governor Peter Mbah approved the allocation following a visit by a delegation from the ITF to the Enugu Government House. He described the proposed centre as part of his administration’s strategy to position the state as a destination for investment, technology and industrial development.

Mbah said the growing influence of digital technologies on traditional industries makes it necessary to equip young people with technical skills that can prepare them for the future of work.

He noted that Enugu has already incorporated technical education into its basic education system, with areas such as digital literacy, robotics and mechatronics receiving greater attention.

The governor also said the state has established smart schools equipped with robotics centres, mechatronics laboratories and other modern learning facilities.

According to him, the proposed ITF centre will complement these efforts by strengthening technical training, encouraging innovation, supporting local manufacturing and creating employment opportunities for young people.

ITF Targets Internationally Competitive Artisans

The Director-General of the ITF, Dr Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun, said the organisation is working to improve the skills of Nigerian artisans and bring them closer to international standards.

He pointed to the Skill-Up Artisans (SUPA) Programme, which is designed to train, certify and licence artisans while improving the quality of technical services available in the country.

Ogun said the ITF had already established a Digital Fabrication Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, with the capacity to produce more than 400 different products.

The Fund is seeking to establish a similar facility in Enugu, with comparable production capacity.

Centre to Support Local Manufacturing

The proposed facility is expected to combine digital technologies with manufacturing and technical training.

The ITF said the initiative is intended to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported products while preparing workers for opportunities created by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and computer-aided manufacturing are increasingly changing how products are designed, developed and manufactured.

The ITF believes that developing these capabilities locally could help Nigerian artisans and young people compete in a more technology-driven economy.

Ogun also expressed the Fund’s willingness to work with private-sector organisations through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand opportunities within Nigeria’s artisanal and technical workforce.

The ITF delegation subsequently visited one of Enugu State’s smart schools to assess some of the facilities already being developed by the state.

The planned Digital Fabrication Centre therefore represents more than another skills-training facility. If properly implemented, it could strengthen the connection between technical education, digital manufacturing, entrepreneurship and employment in Enugu.

For Nigeria, the bigger challenge will be ensuring that investments in technical infrastructure translate into practical skills, locally produced goods and sustainable employment rather than remaining isolated projects.

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The Katsina State Government has clarified details surrounding the ₦155 billion agro-residential housing project planned for Kankia and Charanchi Local Government Areas, insisting that the initiative will deliver affordable housing, employment, and sustainable agricultural livelihoods for residents across the state.

Addressing growing public interest in the project, the Head of Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale, said the programme is structured as a self-financing development model that places no direct financial burden on the state government.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday at the State Secretariat Complex in Katsina, Bawale explained that the project, being implemented in partnership with COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited, combines housing development with agriculture and aquaculture to ensure long-term economic sustainability.

How the project will work

Under the agreement, the Katsina State Government will provide land and guarantees, while the private consultant will finance, construct, and manage the project. According to Bawale, the consultant will recover its investment through the sale of agricultural produce generated within the housing estates.

“The project is a game-changer. The consultant recovers its investment from agricultural output, not from state funds,” he said.

Participants selected for the programme will undergo training in agriculture and aquaculture and will receive a monthly stipend of ₦200,000 during the implementation phase.

Bawale added that beneficiaries will be drawn from all 34 local government areas of the state, ensuring broad inclusion and equitable access to the programme.

Housing and agriculture combined

The project follows the signing of a ₦155 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Katsina State Government and COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited on January 22, 2026.

Under the agreement, 2,500 housing units will be constructed in Kankia Local Government Area, while 1,000 units will be developed in Radda community, Charanchi Local Government Area, bringing the total to 3,500 homes.

Governor Dikko Radda, while signing the MoU at the Government House in Katsina, described the initiative as an innovative agro-residential model designed to address housing shortages, unemployment, and food security simultaneously.

Each housing unit will feature backyard fish farming and vegetable gardens, enabling residents to generate income while meeting household food needs.

Economic impact and youth empowerment

The General Manager of the Katsina State Housing Authority, Aliyu Kurfi, praised the project, noting that it would create thousands of jobs, particularly for young people.

He also commended Governor Radda and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, for supporting a model that blends housing delivery with economic empowerment.

According to the state government, beneficiaries will include unemployed youths and low-income households, including individuals without formal education but with practical farming or vocational skills.

Ownership structure and savings plan

Governor Radda explained that participants are expected to earn up to ₦200,000 monthly, from which they will make mandatory savings of between ₦50,000 and ₦70,000.

These savings will gradually offset investors’ costs, after which beneficiaries will gain full ownership of both the houses and farm assets within three to five years.

“This approach ensures dignity, ownership, and sustainability, rather than dependency,” the governor said.

Project timeline

The governor disclosed that land for the project has already been allocated in both Kankia and Radda communities, while COSMOS Residential City Nigeria Limited has committed to mobilising to site within 10 days.

Construction is expected to be completed within 16 months to two years, subject to weather and logistical conditions.

State officials say the initiative aligns with Katsina’s broader development strategy focused on housing delivery, youth employment, and agricultural productivity.

The post Katsina Govt Explains ₦155bn Agro-Housing Project for 3,500 Homes appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Industry experts have urged the Nigerian government to prioritise the housing sector as a major driver of youth employment and economic growth.

Nigeria’s housing deficit is estimated at 20 million units, with the gap widening due to rapid population growth and urbanisation. The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development says its “Renewed Hope” housing programme has already created over 252,000 jobs, showing the sector’s potential to generate mass employment if scaled.

According to construction professionals, each housing unit creates about 25 direct and indirect jobs from masons and plumbers to transporters and suppliers. Expanding affordable housing delivery could therefore employ millions of young Nigerians, while addressing the nation’s severe accommodation shortfall.

However, high building costs, limited mortgage access, and a shortage of skilled artisans continue to slow progress. Experts are calling for stronger public–private partnerships, vocational training, and local material production to cut costs and boost efficiency.

They also recommend a clear annual target – building at least 300,000 housing units yearly – backed by transparent monitoring of job creation and project delivery.

“If the government wants real, inclusive growth, housing is the place to start,” one industry executive said. “When you build homes, you build jobs.”

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on residents and business operators in Abuja to prioritize tax compliance, describing it as the foundation upon which the city’s transformation is being built. According to him, the ongoing improvements in roads, drainages, street lighting, and other public infrastructure are a direct result of tax revenues.

“All these good roads, drainages, and streetlights wouldn’t be possible if you don’t pay your taxes,” Wike said during the flag-off of new infrastructure projects in Asokoro Extension. “As we say, ‘Dis soup sweet, na money kill am.’ If you don’t have money to buy the right ingredients, the soup won’t taste good. In the same way, if we don’t have funds, we can’t deliver the kind of city Abuja deserves.”

Framing taxation as more than a civic obligation, the Minister described it as a form of collective investment in public welfare. “When you pay your taxes, you are buying comfort, safety, and pride for Abuja. So, let’s all do our part to make this city the pride of the nation.”

The infrastructure drive, he noted, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions Abuja as a global city that can compete with the best urban centers in the world. “This government is committed to ensuring that the FCT competes favorably with other cities of the world,” he said. “What you see in the developed world isn’t magic it’s the result of leadership commitment. That is what Mr. President has brought to Abuja.”

Highlighting the Asokoro Extension project as a symbol of that vision, Wike stressed the importance of basic amenities in shaping the quality of life. “Without proper road networks, drainages, and streetlights, life becomes difficult. But by the time these are completed, Asokoro will rank among the most beautiful areas in Abuja.”

Wike also pointed to the employment opportunities being generated by the ongoing construction projects across the capital, linking them to the administration’s wider socioeconomic goals. “Everywhere you go, construction is ongoing and that means jobs for our young people. This is part of the Renewed Hope agenda.”

Beyond roads and physical infrastructure, the Minister revealed that the FCT Administration is set to embark on a new phase of development in education and healthcare. “We’ve touched transport, roads, sports, and education. Now we’re moving to health. No sector will be left untouched.”

He concluded with a call for patience and continued public support, urging citizens to view their tax contributions as essential to Abuja’s long-term progress. “The Abuja of two years ago is not the same today, and by tomorrow, it will be even better.”

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A new empowerment programme aimed at equipping young women with practical skills in the construction sector has been launched by the Ogun State Government in collaboration with Lafarge.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, disclosed that applications are now open for the 2025 Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training Programme, which will officially commence in September at the Women Development Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. The intensive programme will run for eight weeks.

Adeleye described the initiative as a bold step toward breaking gender barriers in non-traditional trades. She explained that beyond offering hands-on training, the scheme also seeks to connect participants to employment opportunities and foster stronger collaboration with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) within the construction sector.

The training, which is completely free, is open to female applicants aged 18 to 30, who are residents of Ogun State and possess at least an SSCE qualification. Applications will be accepted from 27 August to 8 September 2025, after which shortlisted candidates will be enrolled for the full-time training.

“This programme is not only about skill acquisition; it is about opening doors of opportunity, strengthening women’s economic independence, and shaping a more inclusive future for our state,” Adeleye said. She added that the government remains grateful to Lafarge for its role in making the project a reality.

The Commissioner urged young women to take advantage of the opportunity while calling on community leaders, civil society groups, and stakeholders to help spread awareness. According to her, the Ministry will intensify campaigns to mobilize qualified applicants across Ogun State.

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