President Bola Tinubu, in a meeting with Ms. Reeta Roy, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard Foundation, affirmed his belief in the vibrancy and talent of Nigerian youths. The President expressed his administration’s commitment to supporting public-private partnerships focused on creating dignified work and employment opportunities for the nation’s youth.
Applauding the Mastercard Foundation’s initiative to generate 10 million jobs for young Nigerians, President Tinubu remarked that the program aligns with his Renewed Hope Agenda for economic development and job creation. He emphasized the importance of an inclusive government that fosters change and reshapes the perception of the country, highlighting Nigeria’s position as the largest economy in Africa.
“We believe in what you are doing. We are determined to run an inclusive government and change the dynamics and perception of this country. Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa and, as such, must take its leadership of this continent very seriously,” stated President Tinubu.
The President underscored the potential of Nigeria’s youth population, expressing confidence in their readiness to learn and compete globally. He emphasized the role of leadership in nurturing this vibrant youth demographic and acknowledged the positive reputation Nigeria is gaining in various sectors of the economy.
President Tinubu welcomed Mastercard Foundation’s emphasis on digitization, recognizing technology as a potent tool against corruption. He assured collaboration and the removal of impediments to advance the shared goals of sustainable growth and prosperity for the youth.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted the Mastercard Foundation’s significant impact across Africa and its capacity to transform human capital development in Nigeria. He stressed the alignment of the Foundation’s goals with President Tinubu’s commitment to reforming social intervention and health service delivery.
Ms. Reeta Roy, CEO of Mastercard Foundation, reported progress on the Foundation’s target of impacting 10 million young Nigerians. She outlined achievements in the ‘Young Africa Work Strategy,’ noting that 2.1 million young people are already engaged in dignified work, with seven million benefiting from various work enabler programs.
While acknowledging the Foundation’s historical focus on education and financial inclusion, Ms. Roy expressed excitement about venturing into the healthcare sector. She commended President Tinubu for prioritizing young people in economic growth agendas and highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to being a steadfast, open, and ready-to-learn partner.
President Bola Tinubu assured ongoing collaboration with regulatory agencies and stakeholders to leverage the Mastercard Foundation’s contributions to advance the economic growth agenda, particularly in healthcare and education.
