In order to reduce the number of  unemployed  youths in the country,  the Federal Government  has set aside the sum of N50 billion  in the 2011  financial year for employment generation.

The Minster of Youth Development, Senator  Akinlabi Olasunkanmi   who disclosed this, on Monday, in Abuja, during the  annual ministerial press briefing, stated that there was need to re-invigorate all infrastructure relevant to job creation.

He said in support of the money set aside for employment  generation,  the ministry launched the National Youth  Employment Action Committee, which was expected  to harness employment potentials towards tackling the youth employment menace in the country.

Reviewing  the performance  of the ministry in 2010, Olasunkanmi  informed that his ministry had the mandate to promote the physical, mental and socio-economic development of Nigerian youths through the advancement and protection of their rights within the Nigerian state.

He added, “ the promotion of their welfare and provision of opportunities for their self actualisation and the introduction of policies and programmes entrenching such rights and responsibilities in all facets of public governance realisation are parts of the mandate”

In the area of Agriculture he informed that the ministry had resuscitated the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)  farms across the country in order to enhance the contribution of the scheme to national agricultural revolution.