From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has renewed its strategic partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to train and empower 20 million young Nigerians with digital skills by 2030.
This announcement coincides with Vice President Kashim Shettima’s acceptance to chair the board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform aimed at helping young Nigerians aged 10 to 24 transition from learning to earning through digital connectivity.
According to the VP’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, June 2, 2025, with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohammed Fall, UNICEF Deputy Representative Dr Rownak Khan, and UNICEF Lagos Field Office Chief Celine Lafoucriere, Vice President Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s demographic dynamics as both a challenge and an opportunity.
“It is an honour for me to serve as the Chairman of Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA). 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,” he said.
The GenU 9JA initiative is aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth empowerment as key drivers of national transformation.
Vice President Shettima emphasised that Nigeria is not seeking charity but sustainable and equitable partnerships. “We are not looking for charity. We want a mutually beneficial relationship—one based on respect and shared interests. This is why I’m very passionate about the digital initiative. Beyond leadership in our enlightened self-interest, if we want to live in this part of the world, we have to involve them, we have to empower them,” he stated.
Describing the initiative as a “beautiful programme,” the Vice President said it would enable Nigerian youths to trade their skills in the global market. “From earning to learning is a beautiful initiative and more than any other platform, the digital space gives us the easiest window to get the youth engaged effortlessly. They can trade their skills in the global market. I know of a lot of young Nigerians who are working for global firms from the comfort of their homes,” he added.
UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Fall praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and underscored the importance of GenU in tackling youth unemployment, educational inequality, and digital exclusion. “Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, youth-focused initiatives—skills, digital access, and employment—are critical. And GenU is helping to drive those priorities,” Fall said.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Khan described GenU 9JA as one of UNICEF’s most successful global youth empowerment programmes, with Nigeria serving as a model. “We’ve seen incredible results from Nigeria. Few countries globally have recorded the level of youth impact that GenU 9JA has achieved,” she noted.
Dr Khan explained that the programme is built on three pillars: digital connectivity, pathways from learning to earning, and youth engagement and empowerment—all designed to prepare Nigerian youth for today’s job market.
UNICEF Lagos Chief, Celine Lafoucriere, revealed that since its launch in 2022, GenU 9JA has impacted over 10 million young people, with 1,500 job linkages already secured. “To reach our target of 20 million youth by 2030, we must now strengthen coordination among partners and align even more closely with national policy,” Lafoucriere said.
The renewed partnership marks a significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to harnessing the potential of its youthful population through digital skills development and inclusive economic opportunities.