By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with STRATCOMM Consulting to strengthen youth-focused climate and migration programmes and expand youth-led resilience initiatives nationwide.
The agreement was formalised on Wednesday, 25 February, 2026 during a signing ceremony in Abuja which Was designed to bolster the Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience (YM&CA) Department of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and scale up related interventions across the country.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Maryam Keshinro said the collaboration goes beyond climate interventions to encompass broader development priorities, including research-driven policy formulation and strategic communication.
He stressed that effective communication remains central to the success of government programmes.
According to him, visibility, impact and long-term sustainability depend on how well initiatives are articulated and understood by stakeholders, particularly young people.
Olawande described the MoU as a forward-looking partnership structured to drive innovation, strengthen institutional capacity and deliver measurable outcomes for Nigerian youths.
He further underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making in shaping responsive youth migration and development strategies.
According to the minister, the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes public-private partnerships and inter-ministerial collaboration as catalysts for national development.
“The ministry remains resolute in fostering strategic partnerships that empower Nigerian youths, promote innovation, and advance sustainable socio-economic growth,” he said.
“This agreement reflects the government’s commitment to promoting youth-led initiatives, enhancing strategic communication, and deepening evidence-based engagement in youth development programmes,” he added.
Earlier, Oyekan Adeoloyin, Director of the Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience Department, explained that the unit was established in response to rising national and global challenges linked to youth mobility, economic migration and environmental sustainability.
He noted that Nigerian youths are among those most affected by climate change and migration pressures, even as they remain critical drivers of innovative and sustainable solutions.
Adeoloyin described the partnership with private-sector actors as timely and consistent with the Federal Government’s agenda on sustainable youth empowerment, climate responsiveness and inclusive growth.
He emphasised the need for coordinated action across ministries, sectors and development partners to strengthen migration governance and build climate resilience.
In his remarks, Kayode Olanorin, Managing Director of STRATCOMM Consulting, characterised the agreement as strategic and necessary in addressing emerging youth development challenges.
He commended the ministry’s evolving communication strategy, observing that traditional engagement approaches are no longer sufficient to effectively reach and mobilise young Nigerians.
