The Federal Government of Nigeria has renewed its partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to equip 20 million Nigerian youths with digital skills by 2030. The announcement was made by Vice-President Kashim Shettima during a meeting with Mohammed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.
The initiative is part of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform aimed at helping young Nigerians aged 10 to 24 transition from education to employment through digital connectivity. Shettima, who accepted to chair the GenU 9JA board, described the program as crucial for harnessing Nigeria’s youthful population, which currently numbers over 230 million with an average age of 17.
“This platform provides a vista of opportunities for our young people. Beyond rhetoric, if we want to survive and thrive, we must empower our youth through digital means. That’s the only way forward,” Shettima said.
Since its launch in 2022, GenU 9JA has already impacted over 10 million youths and facilitated 1,500 job linkages. UNICEF officials praised Nigeria’s leadership and the program’s success, highlighting it as a global model for youth empowerment.
Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Deputy Representative, noted that the program focuses on three pillars: digital connectivity, pathways from learning to earning, and youth engagement. “Few countries globally have recorded the level of youth impact that GenU 9JA has achieved,” she said.
The Vice-President emphasized that Nigeria seeks sustainable and equitable partnerships rather than charity. “We want a mutually beneficial relationship based on respect and shared interests,” he added.
UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Fall commended the Renewed Hope Agenda, under which the initiative falls, for prioritizing youth empowerment and digital innovation.
