…empowers 9 million youths through innovative partnerships
By Rotimi Idris
The United Nations Children’s Fund Generation Unlimited Nigeria (UNICEF GenU 9JA) has called on the federal government and other stakeholders to invest in Nigerian youths for the growth and development of the country.
UNICEF made the call on Tuesday during its annual Steering Committee marking its three years anniversary of operation.
This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by its Media Officer, Blessing Ejiofor.
UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate noted that youths will help reshape the future of the country if provided with skills, opportunities, and platforms for engagement.
While stating the purpose of the annual steering committee, she noted that their drive is to transform Nigerian youths by connecting them to opportunities for skills development, digital learning, and livelihood pathways.
Munduate revealed that the joint force has empowered nearly 9 million Nigerian Youths through innovative partnerships, surpassing the three-year target of 7.5 million since its inception in 2021.
This milestone positions the initiative well on its journey to achieving its 2030 goal of supporting 20 million young people transitioning from learning to earning.
“The future of any nation lies in the hands of its children and youth. By providing skills, opportunities, and a platform for engagement, we are not only changing individual lives but also shaping a brighter future for Nigeria.” She stated
The statement continues “The UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) Public-Private-Youth-Partnership (PPYP) Platform today convened its annual Steering Committee at the Airtel Headquarters in Lagos to celebrate three years of groundbreaking achievements and set ambitious targets for the future.
“This meeting reaffirmed GenU 9JA’s commitment to transforming the lives of millions of Nigerian youths by connecting them to opportunities for skills development, digital learning, and livelihood pathways. The meeting was attended by GenU 9JA partners from the government, private sector, civil society, UN organizations, and young people from across Nigeria.
“Since its inception, UNICEF GenU 9JA has empowered over 9 million young Nigerians, surpassing the three-year target of 7.5 million. This milestone positions the initiative well on its journey to achieving its 2030 goal of connecting 20 million young people with opportunities for growth and impact. The committee reviewed progress across its three core pillars: Connectivity and Digital Learning, Workplace Readiness, and Youth Engagement. Key partners presented updates on their respective contributions, underlining how collaboration has driven success”
Speaking at the event, Carl Cruz, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, emphasized the transformative potential of digital access, citing the ongoing UNICEF-Airtel Reimagine Education Program, a part of the GenU 9JA initiative.
Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), highlighted the impact of youth entrepreneurship, saying “Young people are the engines of Africa’s economic transformation. Since 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has empowered over 20,000 young entrepreneurs, creating more than 400,000 jobs. Our BeGreen Africa initiative will now support over 400 young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa, with green-focused training, mentorship, and seed capital to advance sustainable ventures.”