By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 13 August 2026 – Somalia plans to provide employment opportunities and training to 28,000 young people through a joint program by the ministries of Youth and Sports and Labour, the Minister of Youth Mohamed Abdulqadir said on Thursday.
The minister said the government had already provided training and employment opportunities to 1,000 young people through cooperation between the two ministries.
He said the next programme would expand the initiative to 28,000 additional young people.
The programme is part of wider government efforts to support young Somalis through employment, skills development and entrepreneurship, according to the minister's remarks.
Somalia has a predominantly young population, with young people accounting for about 75% of the population, the minister said.
Related articles
He said providing opportunities to a small number of young people would not be sufficient given the size of the country's youth population and stressed the need to expand programmes supporting employment and skills.
The minister also encouraged young people to develop skills and create employment opportunities for themselves rather than relying solely on government jobs.
He cited young entrepreneurs who had started small businesses as examples of people creating employment opportunities through their own efforts.
The minister's remarks came during an event marking the International Youth Day, where he also called on young Somalis to contribute to peace, social cohesion and the country's development.
He urged young people to use social media and technology for education, business, innovation and community development, while avoiding hate speech and misinformation.