(Report from Youth Development Ministry) The Minister of Youth Development, Boni Haruna has assured the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria that the Federal Government is committed to the full implementation of the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme which will give opportunity to Nigerian youths to learn the United Nations system.
He stated this recently when he received the delegation of the United Nations System led by Daouda Toure, UNDP Country Representative in his office in Abuja. The Minister, who expressed his satisfaction with the programme, said that the Federal Government has interest in the implementation of the JPO Programme because government can leverage it to create the enabling environment for the youths to be part of the United Nations system.
While lauding the objectives of the Programme, the Minister declared that having studied the programme, he was convinced that it would be beneficial to the youths. He disclosed that the Federal Government recognised it and was glad Nigeria is taking a lead in Africa to provide the platform for the youths.
He further stated that the outcome of the meeting would assist greatly in fast tracking the full implementation. He pledged the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the take-off of the programme in line with the 2014 appropriation. “We shall do what is needful to see to it that what has been provided by government is released for the take-off of the programme,” he added.
In his remarks, the UNDP Country Representative lauded Nigeria for being the first in Africa to embark on the programme, stressing its importance in raising future junior cadres for the United Nations system. He also said that no African country had taken part in the JPO-Programme. The Representative appealed to the Minister to address the challenges which had delayed the commencement of the programme.
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