The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has equipped approximately 100,000 young people across Borno State with digital and vocational skills.
The Chief of UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, Mr. Francis Butichi, disclosed this during an event organised to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Education in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Mr. Butichi explained that the beneficiaries included graduates, undergraduates and other young people across the state.
Represented at the event by UNICEF’s Resilience Manager, Mr. Atthawoot Sangkharat, Mr. Butichi said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s vision of helping young people transition from learning to earning.
He said through UNICEF’s partnership with the University of Maiduguri, undergraduate and graduate students were serving as educators in non-formal learning centres, supporting thousands of out-of-school children to return to school.
Mr. Butichi said the young educators would at the same time gain practical experience, skills and confidence, in line with the Generation Unlimited agenda.
He stated that through vocational programmes, UNICEF, working with the Borno State Ministry of Education, had supported more than 4,600 youths with starter packs across Bama, Dikwa, Monguno and Maiduguri.
This support, he said had enabled beneficiaries to turn their skills into livelihoods and contribute to the education of their children or siblings.
“Overall, approximately 100,000 young people have been equipped with diverse skills across Borno State in 2025. Beyond formal learning, Mr Butichi noted that UNICEF is also helping young people acquire a wide range of digital skills through platforms and programmes such as the Nigeria Passport Learning initiative and Foundation Literacy and Numeracy Skills for Work and Self-Reliance,” he said.
Mr Butichi further highlighted youth-led educational initiatives, including the Technology-Driven Spelling Bee and Mathematics Quiz, where learners apply innovation, teamwork and technology to strengthen literacy and numeracy within their communities.
Mr Butichi explained that this year’s theme, “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education,” underscores the importance of involving young people in educational innovation and development.
“The theme reflects a simple truth: education works best when young people are not just learners, but partners, innovators and leaders in the learning process,” he said.
He urged young people to see themselves as drivers of change rather than passive observers.
“To the young people here today, you are not waiting for change, you are creating it. Your ideas, energy and leadership are essential to building education systems that truly work. Together, let us harness the power of youth to co-create education systems that are inclusive, innovative and sustainable, and that leave no one behind,” he added.