Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
At least five Nigerian youths have gotten on-the-spot job offers while winners of a business pitch competition received eight HP laptop computers at the just concluded Nigerian Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network’s conference organised by the United State Mission in Nigeria.
The YALI Network’s 6th annual National Conference, themed “Beyond Limits: Innovation for Sustainable Development”, brought together over 400 young Nigerian leaders from 36 Nigerian States between the ages of 18-35 to foster collaboration and drive sustainable development across Nigeria. The YALI Network National Conference served as a testament to the strong partnership between the United States and Nigeria in supporting youth empowerment and sustainable development.
The United States provides online courses and materials to the YALI Network of over 200,000 members in Nigeria and throughout Africa; while connecting members with global leaders in their fields to help members develop leadership skills through speaker programmes and by supporting conferences, such as the just ended one.
The US Embassy’s Public Diplomacy Officer, Julia McKay, in a keynote address highlighted how the US government supports young people in advancing the shared goal of achieving sustainable economies and inclusive communities in Nigeria.
She stated that: “Our commitment to inclusivity is reflected in our initiatives and programs, like YALI Stands for All…as well as the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), and the Tech Women and Tech Girls’ exchange programs. “These are just some examples of how we work with our Nigerian partners to advance our common goals and interests because we believe that by strengthening our people to people ties, we can build a more prosperous, secure, and democratic future for both of our countries.
“We recognize the important role that young people like you play in the future of Nigeria. We will continue to provide opportunities like the YALI Network to equip young Nigerians with the skills and connections that they need to foster change in their communities.”
The US Embassy also stated that the application for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship opened on August 15 and will close on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 and is open to all Nigerians between the ages of 25 and 35.
(leadership.ng)
