Over 11m Nigerian youth empowered as UNICEF’s GenU moves under VP’s office

By Doris Obinna

United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President, marking a major milestone in the country’s youth development efforts.

Since its launch in 2021, GenU 9JA has reached more than 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on empowering young women and marginalized groups through digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement opportunities.

The announcement was made during the annual Steering Committee meeting in Lagos, co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The gathering brought together government representatives, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth advocates to assess progress and set new priorities for 2026 and beyond.

UNICEF in a statement disclosed that in 2025, GenU 9JA deepened its impact through strategic partnerships with major organizations including Airtel, MTN, IHS Towers, Unilever, Microsoft, Jobberman, CISCO, AfricaRe, and ATC Nigeria. These collaborations, it stated provided more than 255,000 young people with access to mobile data and digital learning tools.

“The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) connected over 400,000 youth to skills development and livelihood opportunities, with about 20,000 young women acquiring technical and digital skills. Over 85,000 youth benefited from mentorship programs through the Future-X Campus Ambassadors initiative.

“Civic engagement among young Nigerians also grew significantly, with more than 665,000 youth participating in social impact projects and over 300,000 involved in environmental action through the Green Rising initiative.”

According to Special Assistant to the President on Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), Office of the Vice President, Rimamskeb Nuhu, as quoted, the mission of GenU 9JA aligns closely with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative, both of which aim to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.

Also, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, said the institutionalization of GenU 9JA under the Office of the Vice President reflects the government’s commitment to youth empowerment. “With over 11 million young Nigerians impacted in four years, we are on track to achieve our goal of supporting 20 million young people in their transition from learning to earning by 2030,” she stated.

Chief Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, emphasised the importance of private sector involvement. “The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, are the engines of Africa’s transformation. The Tony Elumelu Foundation will continue to support youth with mentorship, resources, and networks to build sustainable businesses through our partnership with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited,” she said.

Looking ahead, GenU 9JA plans to support an additional 2.5 million youth in 2026 through jobs, training, and entrepreneurship initiatives. Plans include scaling the YOMA platform from 400,000 to two million users, expanding the Green Rising program to universities, and providing grants for youth-led start-ups.

Shamiyah Umar, a member of the UNICEF Young People’s Action Team and founder of the We Are Special Foundation, said GenU 9JA has empowered youth with disabilities to lead and create change. “At GenU 9JA, young people are not just participants; we are leaders shaping the future we want,” she added.