03
Jun
Jun
NIGERIA PARTNERS UNICEF TO TRAIN 20M YOUTH IN DIGITAL SKILLS BY 2030
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CapitalTimesNews / 2 weeks
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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. Vice President Kashim Shettima has accepted to chair the board of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership platform. In a statement made available to the press, the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha noted that Shettima warned that Nigeria’s rapidly growing population presents 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,” Nkwocha quoted Shettima as saying. Shettima stressed that Nigeria is not seeking handouts but sustainable, 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,” Nkwocha quoted Shettima as saying. The GenU 9JA initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth empowerment. Shettima described the initiative as a beautiful programme that would enable Nigerian youths to trade their skills in the global market. UN Resident Coordinator, Mohammed Fall, praised Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the GenU platform is central to addressing 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. Nkwocha reported that UNICEF Deputy Representative, Dr. Rownak Khan, added that GenU 9JA is one of UNICEF’s most successful global youth empowerment programmes, with Nigeria showcased 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,” Khan said. The programme has already impacted over 10 million young people, with 1,500 job linkages secured, according to UNICEF Lagos Chief, Celine Lafoucriere. Nkwocha noted that Lafoucriere emphasized the need to strengthen coordination among partners to reach the target of 20 million youth by 2030.