The UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria Public-Private-Youth-Partnership has successfully connected nine million Nigerian youth with essential skills, digital access, and opportunities for livelihood. This milestone was celebrated at a significant event hosted at the Airtel Headquarters in Lagos, marking three years of progress that exceeded the initial target of 7.5 million youth reached.
The initiative, which aims to connect 20 million young people with growth and impact opportunities by 2030, focuses on three core pillars: Connectivity and Digital Learning, Workplace Readiness, and Youth Engagement. Key partners highlighted their contributions at the event, emphasizing the collaborative efforts that have led to success.
During the gathering, various stakeholders shared the impact of their programs. Airtel Nigeria’s CEO highlighted the importance of digital access in transforming the lives of young Nigerians, particularly through initiatives like the UNICEF-Airtel Reimagine Education Program under the GenU 9JA initiative. The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s CEO also emphasized the significance of youth entrepreneurship in driving Africa’s economic transformation and announced support for green-focused training for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria.
UNICEF Nigeria’s Representative underscored the critical need for ongoing investment in youth, recognizing them as the future of the nation. The statement outlined the achievements of GenU 9JA over the years, including increased access to digital learning tools for over 800,000 young Nigerians, employability skills training for over one million youth, and engagement of over 500,000 young people in community-led initiatives.
The event concluded with a call for continuous investment in Nigeria’s youth, urging the government, private sector, and civil society to bolster their support for young people to ensure they are well-prepared for contributing meaningfully to the country’s development.