Nigerian Policy Makers Visit Uganda to Learn Youth Employment Strategies

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a visiting delegation from Nigeria's National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) on July 8.

Rear Admiral A.A. Adesope (rtd), the acting head of the delegation and staff director, discussed the importance of NIPSS in promoting reflection, research, and dialogue on issues pertinent to Nigeria, Africa, and the broader world.

He highlighted that the institute runs a flagship program for top-level leaders from various sectors, including the public, private, and voluntary fields such as the military, police, ministries, and civil services.

Rear Admiral Adesope explained that the decision to focus on Uganda as a study model was guided by the similar pre-colonial history and burgeoning youth populations shared by both countries.

“Uganda’s success in managing youth unemployment and sustaining job creation serves as a learning model in Africa,” he said, adding that the visit aims to learn from Uganda's experiences, particularly in leveraging ICT to create jobs, with the hope of achieving similar progress in Nigeria.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, represented by Ambassador Phillip Odida, the acting director of Regional & International Peace and Security, commended the Nigerian delegation for their visit. He emphasized the significance of knowledge-sharing and collaboration in addressing common challenges, stating that regional cooperation is vital for prosperity.

“Encouraging growth, development, and regional integration is essential for overcoming prevalent challenges,” he said.

The meeting concluded positively, with the visiting delegation expressing appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to them by the Ministry and reiterating Nigeria's commitment to fostering closer relations with Uganda.