The Nigerian government has reinforced its collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) through an ambitious initiative targeting digital skills development for 20 million young citizens within the next six years, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced Tuesday.
The announcement coincided with Shettima’s acceptance of the chairmanship role for Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a collaborative platform bringing together public, private, and youth sectors to facilitate career transitions for Nigerians aged 10-24 through enhanced digital connectivity.
During discussions with UN officials at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, including Mohammed Fall (UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator), Rownak Khan (UNICEF Deputy Representative), and Celine Lafoucriere (Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office), the Vice President highlighted Nigeria’s demographic dynamics as both challenging and promising, noting the nation’s 230+ million population with a median age of 17.
Expressing enthusiasm about his new leadership position, Shettima emphasized the platform’s potential impact on Nigerian youth development.
“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,” the Vice President said.
The GenU 9JA program supports the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes inclusive growth, technological advancement, and youth development as foundations for national progress.
Shettima clarified Nigeria’s approach to international cooperation, emphasizing partnership over dependency.
“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. Beyond leadership in our enlightened self-interest, if we want to live in this part of the world, we have to involve them, we have to empower them,” he said.
The Vice President praised the program’s potential for connecting Nigerian talent with international opportunities, describing how digital platforms enable global workforce participation.
“They can trade their skills in the global market. I know of a lot of young Nigerians who are working for global firms from the comfort of their homes,” he added.
UN Resident Coordinator Fall commended President Bola Tinubu’s leadership approach, identifying GenU as instrumental in tackling youth joblessness, educational disparities, and digital access barriers.
“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.
UNICEF’s Khan highlighted Nigeria’s exceptional performance within the global GenU framework, positioning the country as an exemplary case study.
“We’ve seen incredible results from Nigeria. Few countries globally have recorded the level of youth impact that GenU 9JA has achieved,” she said.
Khan outlined the program’s foundational elements: enhanced digital infrastructure, career pathway development, and comprehensive youth engagement strategies designed to align with contemporary employment demands.
UNICEF’s Lagos office chief, Lafoucriere, reported significant achievements since the 2022 program launch, including reaching over 10 million young participants and facilitating 1,500 employment connections.
“To reach our target of 20 million youth by 2030, we must now strengthen coordination among partners and align even more closely with national policy,” Lafoucriere said.
