He further noted that although they have recorded progress concerning the skill acquisition centres across the federation, the ministry is facing some challenges such as "insufficient and late release of fund, inappropriate selection of youth participants for training programmes by the states, little or no access to micro-credit facilities for the trained youth" among others.According to him, the problem faced by the country is not lack of employment for the youth but lack of skills, explaining that giving skills to young people without regard to support to translate it into job is like 'accumulation of frustration" for them. Abdullahi said past initiatives of government to solve youth unemployment failed to yield positive result, because they were not focused on youth but applied as general intervention for job creation.
"We are repositioning the ministry as a facilitator and a coordinator on youth development, rather than as service providers". He said.