UNICEF Nigeria’s GenU Celebrates 3-Year Milestone of Empowering Youth

Nigeria’s UNICEF Generation Unlimited 9JA (GenU 9JA) initiative has achieved remarkable milestones in empowering young Nigerians.

The initiative which was launched in 2021 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, GenU 9JA aims to provide skills development, digital learning, and pathways to sustainable livelihoods for 20 million youth by 2030.

The initiative has already exceeded its initial goal, impacting over 9 million young Nigerians.

GenU 9JA’s key achievements include digital learning and connectivity with over 800,000 young Nigerians which gained access to digital learning tools, including the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP).

The achievement also include workplace readiness training which allows more than 1 million youth to acquire employability skills and access to livelihood opportunities.

Youth Engagement was also an advantage of the training which allowed over 500,000 young people, engaging in youth-led programs, amplifying their voices and roles as changemakers in their communities.

The initiative is a result of collaboration between the public and private sectors, including notable companies like Airtel, Microsoft, Unilever, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The Nigerian government has also pledged its support, recognising the critical role of youth empowerment in the country’s development.

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, emphasised the urgency of such initiatives, stating that “with a significant portion of the Nigerian population lacking access to quality services, a public-private-youth partnership platform such as GenU 9JA is critical for our nation’s future.”

As GenU 9JA continues to evolve, it remains committed to empowering millions of young Nigerians through innovative partnerships, preparing them to become the future leaders who will drive Nigeria’s social and economic transformation.

Lateefah Ibrahim