The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the recruitment process for Batch B beneficiaries of the Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme (YEIDEP), set to begin nationwide on March 9, 2026. The initiative, aimed at addressing youth unemployment and radicalisation, will provide startup capital and support to young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 50.

Physical Registration and Bank Account Requirement

According to a statement from the programme’s Coordinator-General, Kennedy Iyere, the recruitment for Batch B will differ from the previous Batch A phase, which used an online registration portal. This time, applicants are required to visit designated partner banks in person to open a YEIDEP-specific bank account as part of the registration process.

Opening the YEIDEP bank account is the only valid means of becoming a recognised participant and potential beneficiary of the programme, the organisers said. Applicants were advised that the registration process is free of charge and warned against any requests for payment by bank officials or intermediaries, which could be fraudulent.

Authorised banks for the recruitment include Fidelity Bank, Keystone Bank, Wema Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Ecobank, and Lotus Bank. The recruitment will take place across the country, except in Kano State, where it will be supervised by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf through a newly established state YEIDEP Steering Committee.

Eligibility and Disqualification Rules

Individuals who successfully registered during Batch A and already possess confirmed YEIDEP bank accounts are not eligible to participate in the new recruitment phase. However, those who registered during Batch A but did not receive confirmed accounts are encouraged to take part in the Batch B exercise.

Participants were warned against multiple registrations, with organisers stating that anyone found engaging in duplicate applications would be automatically disqualified. This measure is intended to ensure the integrity of the recruitment process and prevent abuse of the system.

Programme Objectives and National Impact

The Youth Economic Intervention and De-Radicalisation Programme is a national initiative coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the Youths Off The Street Initiative and supported by development partners. The programme seeks to address youth unemployment, poverty, and vulnerability to radicalisation by promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities among young Nigerians.

According to Iyere, the initiative aims to empower up to 20 million youths with startup capital and support mechanisms designed to stimulate economic participation while reducing social and security risks linked to unemployment.

“YEIDEP’s core mandate is to tackle Nigeria’s chronic youth unemployment, youth poverty and youth hopelessness, as well as the threats of youth radicalisation, socio-political instability and national insecurity,” Iyere said. He added that promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment among young people remains the most sustainable pathway to generating mass employment and reducing youth restiveness across the country.

The programme comes at a time when youth unemployment in Nigeria remains a pressing concern, with the National Bureau of Statistics estimating that about 15.5 million young people are unemployed. The government has acknowledged that without targeted interventions, the situation could lead to increased social unrest and security challenges.

Analysts have noted that the YEIDEP initiative aligns with broader efforts to diversify the Nigerian economy and reduce dependency on the oil sector. With the ongoing global economic shifts and local challenges such as inflation and currency instability, the government’s focus on youth economic inclusion is seen as a critical step towards long-term stability.

As the recruitment period approaches, officials have urged eligible youths to prepare their documents and visit designated banks to avoid delays. The programme is expected to have a significant impact on the economic landscape, potentially creating thousands of new businesses and employment opportunities across the country.