The Adamawa State Government is placing youth development at the centre of its economic agenda, deploying a mix of business financing, vocational training, education, agriculture and digital programmes to expand opportunities for young people across the state.
Daily Trust reported that through the Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA), the administration has rolled out the Fintiri Business Wallet and other interventions targeting small businesses, artisans, women and young entrepreneurs. The 2026 state budget document states that more than 60,000 people had already benefited from the Business Wallet, while another 100,000 beneficiaries were scheduled to receive N50,000 each.
Beyond financial assistance, the administration has expanded vocational training through PAWECA, with programmes covering trades including welding, electrical installation, automobile repairs, tailoring, carpentry, tiling and renewable-energy skills. The agency’s interventions also include skills acquisition, social support and funding for unemployed people and small-business operators.
Agriculture is another avenue being used to connect young people with economic opportunities. The state has pursued agricultural partnerships and cluster-based farming initiatives, while its partnership with Origin Group is expected to focus on large-scale cultivation, input support, tomato production and agricultural value chains. The government says the approach is intended to attract investment and create jobs.
The administration has also linked youth development to education and technology through scholarship programmes, model-school projects and initiatives such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE). Under AGILE, the state has commenced the distribution of ATM cards for conditional cash transfers designed to support adolescent girls to remain in school.
At the policy level, the Adamawa State Youth Policy 2025 provides a framework covering employment, entrepreneurship, education, health, civic participation and skills development. It also provides for mechanisms aimed at improving coordination and access to opportunities for young people.
Taken together, the initiatives reflect an approach that combines financial assistance with skills development, education, technology and productive sectors such as agriculture. Their long-term impact will depend on sustained implementation and the ability of beneficiaries to convert the interventions into viable businesses, employment and other forms of economic participation.
