Ayodele Olawande meets UN agencies, unveils potential of ‘innovative youth dashboard’

Some officials of the federal ministry of youth development have met with representatives of the United Nations agencies to discuss the potential and impact of the “youth activities dashboard” (YAD).

YAD is a digital tool tool created by the ministry to track programmes for young Nigerians in ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) and create opportunities for them.

The tool was launched in December 2024.

Olawande Ayodele, minister of youth development, and Titilope Gbadamosi, special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on youth initiatives, met with Mohammed Fall, the United Nations (UN) resident and humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria to discuss the tool’s potential impact and implementation.

Representatives of International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and United Nations Family Planning Agency (UNFPA) attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Olawande said the digital tool was created to facilitate coordination on activities pertaining to youth development in the country.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to youth development in Nigeria,” the minister said.

“It is part of his core agenda. This is why we have proposed innovative initiatives such as the youth activities dashboard to help us understand what is being done and by who in the youth ecosystem for better coordination.”

On her part, Gbadamosi said the tool will ensure youth programmes align with national priorities and global commitments like the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

The presidential aide said the dashboard will bridge critical gaps in youth programme implementation by providing actionable insights for stakeholders.

“The Youth Activities Dashboard is more than just a monitoring tool — it’s a roadmap for meaningful impact,” Gbadamosi said.

“With real-time data, we can ensure that every youth-focused initiative is strategic, measurable, and aligned with national development goals.”

Speaking after the dashboard’s presentation, the UN resident coordinator emphasised on the importance of data in the development of youth programmes.

“This tool will enhance efficiency, ensuring youth programmes are not just well-funded but also effective,” Fall said.

“It will help track spending, measure real impact, and ensure no young person is left behind.”