UNIZIK named the Anambra/ SouthEast Coordinating Tertiary Institution for the FG’s YIEDEP programme
Hosts maiden stakeholders implementation meeting
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), has been named the Coordinating tertiary institution to oversee the involvement and participation of other tertiary schools across Anambra State and Southeast by extension in the Federal Government’s Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP) initiative.
Powered by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD), YEIDEP is a youth-focused empowerment programme in partnership with the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI).
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, UNIZIK hosted the strategic partnership meeting with the YEIDEP leadership and management of tertiary institutions in Anambra State at the University’s Main Campus, Awka.
The engagement brought together Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts and representatives of tertiary institutions across Anambra State, alongside government officials, banking executives, media practitioners and security personnel.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Hilda Osisioma welcomed participants and commended the Federal Ministry of Youth Development for introducing programmes aimed at empowering Nigerian youths and reducing unemployment, social exclusion and insecurity through strategic economic interventions.
Prof. Anyaehie reaffirmed the commitment of the University to supporting initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, innovation, skills acquisition and sustainable youth development. He noted that tertiary institutions remain critical stakeholders in driving national transformation through education and capacity building.
Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator-General of YEIDEP, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, stated that the programme was designed to create economic opportunities for young Nigerians while also addressing the root causes of youth restiveness and social vices through empowerment and engagement.
He expressed delight at being on the UNIZIK campus to introduce a very important intervention plan by the Federal Government aimed at tackling youth restiveness and unemployment and called on the Tertiary Institutions in Anambra State and the entire South-East region to be part of this initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
He maintained that the Nigerian youths must be deradicalised through economic empowerment, tracing the cause of youth radicalisation in Nigeria to the feelings of the youths that they are not being taken care of.
He stated that the mandate of YEIDEP as articulated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development is to create jobs for the youths through entrepreneurship and commended the 12 commercial banks in the country that scaled through the rigorous screening process and emerged as partners in this project.
Participants at the meeting deliberated extensively on strategies for effective implementation of the programme within tertiary institutions, especially in the areas of student sensitisation, enrollment, mentorship, entrepreneurship training and access to financial support mechanisms.
At the end of the deliberations, the meeting resolved as follows:
1. That an MOU be signed by the representatives of YEIDEP, the Tertiary Institution in Anambra and the selected banks on the modalities of the training and funding
2. That tertiary institutions across Anambra State should collaborate actively with YEIDEP to ensure widespread awareness and participation among students and youths.
3. That Nnamdi Azikiwe University shall serve as the coordinating institution for the programme in Anambra State and, where necessary, across the South-East region.
4. Institutional frameworks should be established to facilitate seamless registration, orientation and participation of students in YEIDEP initiatives.
5. That stakeholders should continue to support youth-focused programmes capable of reducing unemployment, poverty and social insecurity in the country.
6. That the partnership between tertiary institutions and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development should be strengthened to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable national development.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by all stakeholders to work collectively towards empowering Nigerian youths and creating pathways for productive engagement and economic self-reliance.
Several Universities and Commercial banks were represented at the occasion among which were: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Paul University, Awka, Peter University, Onne, Madonna University, Okija, Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, and the University on the Niger, Umunya. Others are: Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Federal Polytechnic, Oko and Archbishop Alexander Ibezim College of Education, Nibo-Nise.
Among the Commercial banks present were Fidelity, Keystone, Access, Wema, UBA, Ecobank, GTB, Zenith and Union Bank.
The Registrar of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Dr. Gloria Chinenye Okeke, two members of UNIZIK Governing Council; Prof. PVC Okoye and Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu were equally present. Other attendees include Chief Executives of the Tertiary Institutions mentioned or their representatives, Chief Executives of Banks, officials from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and YEIDEP, Deans, Directors, Union leaders, Students, Chief Safety Officer of UNIZIK, Mr. Collins Obi, and the Director, Information and Public Relations, UNIZIK, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah. Vice-Chancellor of Paul University, Very Reverend Professor Obiora Nwosu, Vice-Chancellor of Peter University, Reverend Father Prof Emmanuel Umezinwa and Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Paul University were among the many University Chief Executives present