The federal government has issued a stern warning to hoteliers nationwide, cautioning against accommodating teenagers and underage girls in their facilities to avoid severe sanctions. This announcement coincides with the distribution of N100 million in grants to 200 Nigerian youths to enhance their economic prospects.
During the ‘Unlock Training and Grants’ ceremony held in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, emphasized the government’s commitment to curbing the lodging of minors in hotels. The event, organized by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship Education, Abiola Arogundade, saw young entrepreneurs receive substantial financial support.
The minister’s warning follows incidents such as the one in January 2023, where students from Federal Government College in Ijanikin, Lagos, absconded from school to engage in illicit activities in hotels. Similarly, in April 2022, a 15-year-old boy attempted to lodge two girls and another boy in a hotel room, highlighting the recurring issue of minors misusing hotel facilities.
Kennedy-Ohanenye declared that hoteliers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) must now display signposts warning against lodging underage girls. She extended her directive to school proprietors, insisting on stringent measures to prevent bullying and protect students.
“Nigeria must be better. From June 20, we have directed hotels to put a sign outside from the Ministry of Women. No lodging of underage girls. (Otherwise) what happened in Niger State will be an understatement of what will happen in the FCT, and I mean it. No more lodging of underage girls and no more bullying in schools,” she asserted.
The minister also announced an investigation into a viral video of ten Nigerian teenagers rescued from Ghana, where they were trafficked for prostitution. She promised decisive government action on the matter.
At the same event, the government awarded N100 million in grants to 200 Nigerian youths. The grants, presented by Arogundade, aim to support both new and existing businesses. The recipients were selected through a campaign inviting youths to submit videos detailing their skills, future plans, and how government support could help them achieve their goals.
Arogundade highlighted the program’s intent to foster technical and entrepreneurial skills among Nigerian youths, ensuring they contribute significantly to national development. “Today, we are giving out N500,000 grants each to 120 winners with the best business plans. We are also giving out honorary awards to 80 persons seen to be doing very well in their Technical, Vocational, and Entrepreneurship skills but need support to upscale their businesses,” she said.
In a related development, the Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, announced plans to reform and restructure the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme. She revealed that over 5,000 corps members would receive funding for their entrepreneurial ventures, signaling the government’s continued commitment to youth empowerment.
