The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu has approved a N10 billion Youth Development Fund to empower youths in FCT.

Mr Wike disclosed this on Monday at the inauguration of the upgrade of War College/Army Checkpoint Road and other ancillary roads in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

He said the youth empowerment programme, which would be inaugurated on Thursday, was in line with the current administration’s youth empowerment policy.

The minister said the gesture was possible due to the priority accorded to women and youths by the president.

“It was Mr President who created the Women Affairs Secretariat and the Youth Development Secretariat and appointed a youth to head the youth secretariat.

“This has never happened in the history of the FCT. Additionally, Mr President insisted that there must be a Youth Development Fund on how to help the youth to grow.

“Mr President has approved, for a start, N10 billion to see how the youth will be empowered,” he said.

Mr Wike said the amount had been captured in the FCT’s supplementary budget and urged residents, particularly the youth, to continue to support the Tinubu-led administration.

“We are happy there are signs that things will get better,” he added.

Mr Tinubu approved the creation of youth development secretariats in July and appointed Abdullahi Ango as its pioneer mandate secretary in August.

(NAN)