UNICEF initiative connects 9m youth to livelihood opportunities

The UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria Public-Private-Youth-Partnership  said it has connected nine million  Nigerian youth with skills, digital access, and livelihood opportunities.

In a landmark gathering held at the Airtel Headquarters in Lagos, the UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria  platform celebrated three years of remarkable progress, having surpassed its initial three-year target of 7.5 million.

A statement by UNICEF on Tuesday, said that this milestone positioned the initiative well on its journey to achieving its 2030 goal of connecting 20 million young people with opportunities for growth and impact.

It read, “The committee reviewed progress across its three core pillars: Connectivity and Digital Learning, Workplace Readiness, and Youth Engagement. Key partners presented updates on their respective contributions, underlining how collaboration has driven success.”
Speaking at the event, CEO of Airtel Nigeria,  Carl Cruz, emphasised the transformative potential of digital access, citing the ongoing UNICEF-Airtel Reimagine Education Program, a part of the GenU 9JA initiative.

 “Airtel is proud to play a role in ensuring no young Nigerian is left behind in this digital age. We are encouraged by the success recorded so far among the 1,260 schools connected through our partnership,” he said.

CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, explained the impact of youth entrepreneurship, “Young people are the engines of Africa’s economic transformation. Since 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has empowered over 20,000 young entrepreneurs, creating more than 400,000 jobs.
Our BeGreen Africa initiative will now support over 400 young entrepreneurs in Nigeria with green-focused training, mentorship, and seed capital to advance sustainable ventures.”

 UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, reiterated the urgency for continued investment in youth.

She added, “The future of any nation lies in the hands of its children and youth. By providing skills, opportunities, and a platform for engagement, we are not only changing individual lives but also shaping a brighter future for Nigeria.”

The statement also analysed GenU 9JA achievements over three years, saying over 800,000 young Nigerians now had access to digital learning tools, such as the Nigeria Learning Passport bridging educational gaps in underserved areas.

“On work readiness, over one million youth have gained employability skills and livelihood opportunities and over 500,000 young people have participated in youth-led programmes, amplifying their voices as changemakers in their communities.”

The committee concluded with a call for continued investment in Nigeria’s youth while GenU 9JA urged the government, private sector, and civil society to further their support for young people, ensuring they were prepared for meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.