APM’s Makinde pledges to tackle youth unemployment, train 1 million Nigerians in skills

• As party unveils manifesto Nov 4

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Presidential Campaign of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM, and Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde has pledged that his party will tackle youth unemployment by encouraging entrepreneurship, stressing that entrepreneurs are the ones who can create sustainable jobs.

Makinde has similarly revealed that the the APM manifesto will be unveiled on November 4, this year.

The APM presidential candidate made the pledge while addressing members and supporters of the party at its South East Town Hall meeting in Enugu on Thursday.

Makinde disclosed that the APM led government will train one million young Nigerians in skills that can help them secure employment almost immediately.

His words, “We will tackle youth unemployment by encouraging entrepreneurship because entrepreneurs are the ones who can create sustainable jobs.

“That is exactly what we will do.

“We will create a conducive business environment across the country to enable businesses to thrive.

“We intend to train one million young Nigerians in skills that can help them secure employment almost immediately.

“So, please, get your handheld devices or computers, log on to Skill Reset Nigeria and take advantage of this opportunity. We have one million young people we intend to train in these skills”, he said.

Continuing, Makinde said, “As I always say, when the tide rises, all boats rise with it. If Nigeria moves in the right direction, we will all benefit.

“Our leaders should please pray for Nigeria, but they should also stop deceiving the people and tell Nigerians the true state of affairs. That way, as they pray, our prayers will not be in vain”, he stressed.

The APM presidential flag bearer however appealed to Nigerians to reject all forms of division along religious or ethnic lines, saying “The challenges we face do not discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

“What we must do is create opportunities for our people, particularly our teeming youth, so that we can tackle hunger, address grinding poverty and move our people from poverty to prosperity”.

Speaking on the issue of the party’s manifesto, Makinde said, “Some people have been asking us: Where is your manifesto? You have been criticising the current administration, but tell us what you intend to do.

“Well, we have been travelling around the country. We have visited the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-West, and we are now in the South-East.

“We are not like them. We do not simply manufacture policies out of thin air. We listen to our people, hear what they want to say, and incorporate their expectations into our agenda.

“This is the final town hall meeting. Over the weekend, we will work around the clock with our team to finalise our manifesto, which will be unveiled on November 4, 2026.

“In that manifesto, you will find the issues you have raised with us and our proposed solutions to the challenges confronting our country”, he said.

Also speaking at the Town Hall meeting, the Vice Presidential candidate of the APM, Mallam Lawal Daura said, “The solution to Nigeria’s many problems lies in addressing the challenges confronting our country today.

“We are well travelled and have lived in different places. We have seen and experienced life not only in Europe but also across Africa.

“We understand the challenges Nigerians are facing, and we know that no nation can continue to endure widespread hunger and deprivation.

“Of course, democracy cannot thrive in an environment where politics is militarised and security is politicised.

“We must confront these crises and challenges if Nigeria is to achieve its noble objectives, as enshrined in our Constitution and reflected in our national anthem, which we sing whenever we gather”, he said.