By Paul Joseph
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced the commencement of recruitment for Batch B beneficiaries of the Youth Economic Intervention and De‑Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), even as many Batch A participants say they are yet to receive promised payments.
The new recruitment exercise is scheduled to begin nationwide on March 9, 2026, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the programme’s Coordinator-General, Kennedy Iyere.
However, several Batch A registrants have expressed frustration over delays in the programme’s financial disbursements, accusing organisers of making repeated promises without fulfilling them.
Iyere called on eligible Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 50 to take part in the recruitment exercise, which will be conducted across the country.
The exercise will not follow the same process used during Batch A. While the first phase relied on an online registration portal, Batch B applicants will be required to visit designated partner banks physically to open a YEIDEP bank account, which organisers say is the only recognised method of registration.
Officials emphasised that the registration process is free of charge and warned applicants to report any bank officials or intermediaries demanding payment.
Individuals who successfully registered during Batch A and already possess confirmed YEIDEP bank accounts will not be eligible for the Batch B recruitment. However, those who registered earlier but did not receive confirmed accounts may participate in the new phase.
Applicants were also warned against multiple registrations, with organisers stating that duplicate applications would lead to automatic disqualification.
The recruitment exercise will take place nationwide except in Kano State, where Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will supervise the process through a newly established state YEIDEP Steering Committee.
The committee has been authorised to coordinate recruitment and beneficiary selection within the state.
The banks approved to handle the account opening and registration process include Fidelity Bank, Keystone Bank, Wema Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Ecobank, Lotus Bank, and Alpha Morgan Bank.
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development coordinates YEIDEP in partnership with the Youths Off The Street Initiative and other development partners.
According to organisers, the programme is designed to address youth unemployment, poverty and vulnerability to radicalisation by promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities.
YEIDEP aims to empower up to 20 million Nigerian youths with startup capital and business support to encourage economic participation and reduce security risks associated with joblessness and social unrest.
Iyere said tackling youth unemployment remains critical to Nigeria’s long-term stability.
“YEIDEP’s core mandate is to tackle Nigeria’s chronic youth unemployment, youth poverty and youth hopelessness, and also their imposed threats of youth radicalisation, socio-political instability, national insecurity and economic unproductivity,” he said.
He added that empowering young Nigerians with startup capital and entrepreneurial support is one of the most effective ways to create mass employment and reduce youth frustration.
Despite the new recruitment announcement, some Batch A participants have criticised the programme, saying payments promised to earlier beneficiaries have yet to begin.
Several registrants claim they have waited months after completing registration and opening accounts, with repeated assurances from organisers that disbursements would soon commence.
The development has raised concerns among potential applicants about the programme’s implementation, even as recruitment for Batch B moves forward.
Observers say the success of the initiative may depend largely on the government’s ability to address the concerns of Batch A beneficiaries and deliver on promised financial support.
Leave a Reply