By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Young people and leaders from across Nigeria’s public and private sectors met in Lagos during the week to assess progress towards a bold plan to deliver job-related skills and livelihood opportunities to 20 million youths by year 2030.
GenU 9JA, launched by the Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on 27th July 2021, has already made important headway in providing connectivity, digital skills and job opportunities to over 300,000 Nigerian youths, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria highlighted.
“With over 65 million young people aged 10 – 24, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, representing an extraordinary opportunity for development and growth.
“Given that the youth unemployment rate currently stands at 37 per cent in Nigeria, GenU 9JA has set ambitious objectives to equip 20 million young Nigerians, including those in underserved rural and peri-urban communities, with access to data, digital learning, job-related skills, and livelihood opportunities by 2030,” UNICEF Nigeria pointed out in a news statement titled: “Delivering Connectivity, Skills, and Job Opportunities to 20 Million Young Nigerians by 2030.”
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, said,“Young people are a tremendous resource for Nigeria, and we can help realize their potential by listening to their challenges and empowering them to find the solutions,”
“Nigeria’s huge youth population represents a great economic potential that guarantees a sure return on investment. They also have the right to fulfil their potential and their dreams. If we get it right in Nigeria, it will make a huge difference for the African continent as a whole.”
According to UNICEF in the news release dated 4th March 2022, withover 20 implementing partners currently onboard GenU 9JA, millions of Nigerian school children and youth will be connected to the internet and have access to digital learning.
It added that the young people will also have access to individualized learning pathways, social impact tasks, and livelihood opportunities through the “Youth Agency Market Place,” #YOMA.
“This initiative is especially important to us at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, as the core of our work revolves around empowering young Africans,” Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tony Elumelu Foundation, said.
The CEO noted that the Foundation is Africa’s leading philanthropic organization, adding: “We remain committed to doing this because we know that the future of Africa rests in the hands of young people, and we want to keep playing a key part in shaping Africa’s future.
“We are proud to be part of this historic transformation in the lives of 20 million Nigerian boys and girls. The possibility for growth is truly unlimited when a large percentage of young people are well prepared to fulfil their dreams.”
Launched by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 UN General Assembly, Generation Unlimited (GenU) is the world’s first global Public-Private-Youth Partnership Platform on a mission to skill and connect the world’s 1.8 billion young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact.
Spearheaded by UNICEF, the partnership brings together global organizations and leaders, including Heads of State, CEOs, Heads of UN agencies, and civil society champions, with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child.
