Prime Minister James Marape has made a policy statement ‘I will find you (youths.) The other statement he made is ‘create 1 million jobs for the youths.’
These statements have motivated the Ministry of Community Development, Women, Youth and Religion through the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) to have formalized the National Youth Engagement Strategy 2025-2029.
The strategy is a national vehicle or framework aimed at youth development in the country.
This blueprint document envisages that by 2029, 1 million jobs and other opportunities in both public and private sectors will have been created for the youths.
Pathways to youth employability and empowerment identified in the strategy are in sports, culture, tourism, content creation and monetization, fisheries, national voluntary services, labour mobility, SME, agriculture, informal sector and roadworks.
Collaboration amongst provincial governments, DDAs, LLGs, churches and the corporate organizations is key to unlocking the youth engagement and employment potential.
NYDA aims to mobilize and register over 10,000 youths per district through its digital registration resource.
The NYDA has so far established alliances with nine (9) provincial governments. This has created leeway for NYDA to amplify the same with DDAs and LLGs.
One such partner is the West Sepik Provincial Government.
After having inked a collaboration with the government, more than 190 youths from Vanimo Green District were mobilized, identified and registered online.
This week, 86 of them were undergoing a three-day financial training in Vanimo. The training was facilitated by Mama Bank which has a branch onsite.
Last night at the Vanimo Secondary School, the youths including 30 women and girls received their certificates and Mama Bank passbooks.
The night was filled with hope, passion and enthusiasm as they put the building blocks together to explore what the future holds for them.
Straight shooter and local MP Belden Norman Namah did not hold any bullets.
He said youth population is sitting on a time bomb. If no step is taken to address and positively engage them, the country is doomed.
Namah is also the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
He highlighted that the reforms in Education will exacerbate lawlessness and youth inflicted problems.
Actions, he said, must be taken now.
He commended NYDA Director-General Joe Itaki and his staff for a job well done.
He also extended his commandment to all the partners in this journey.
Mr. Namah admitted failure in this space despite his district’s initiative to support SMEs.
He said it failed due to lack of financial discipline.
Words were not enough to their ears. The skilled youths were celebrating and clapping when Minister Namah announced a K1 million SME support plus K1,000 seed capital each for 76 youths who have opened their bank accounts with the Mama Bank.
Mr. Namah called on fellow MPs to amplify such initiative at their districts too for better PNG.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion Jason Peter described the event as historic.
He said it represented hope, dreams, opportunity and renewed commitment to greatest resource young people.
He said it is not just a launch but opening doors to leadership, skills development, community participation and realizing of dreams.
Director-General Itaki said the presentation of certificates and passbooks meant the journey of million miles began now.
He clarified that the youths would start venturing in the informal sector first with the tools and skills.
Based on their progress, he said, IPA and TIN certificates will be issued to their informal business activities so they can participate in the formal economy.
Mr. Itaki said his office has installed star link kits at the Vanimo Green District Office for staff and youths to do research and content creation too.
He presented a computer set and printer to build provincial and district youth resource capacity.
He also presented seedlings to over 25 youths who have expressed their interest in agriculture.
Sandaun Provincial Administrator Jacob Areman said the national youth engagement strategy holds the key to address youth issues in the province.
He said 86 youths will impact their families and villages positively.
NYDA continues to drive the National Youth Engagement Strategy to reach the targets.
All other provincials and districts are welcome to jump on this bandwagon in light of the political will from the national government.