Nigerian Youths To Benefit From F.G, UNICEF Expanded Education Scheme

Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, says no fewer than 20 million young Nigerians would be impacted with digital skills through an initiative of the Federal Government and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The vice president disclosed this in a pre-recorded message delivered at the official launch of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) programme in Nigeria, a global multi-sector partnership that was initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners.

GenU is a global, multi-sector partnership initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners, and impacting over 100 million young people globally, through innovations and programmes in more than 40 countries across six continents.

Osinbajo said that the initiative, which offered expanded education, training and employment, targeting 20 million Nigerians between ages 10 and 24 years, from 2021 to 2030, would positively impact the country’s future job growth enabling programmes.

Speaking on the GenU programme, the Vice President said the program is important because it promises to provide 20 million Nigerians with digital skills, link them to entrepreneurial and other job opportunities and assist them in realizing their full potential.

GenU Nigeria has a wide range of Development Partners including the African Development Bank, GIZ, ILO, UNDP, USAID, and private sector organisations.

The introduction of GenU Nigeria is in collaboration with state governors including Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Kano State; Godwin Obaseki, Edo State, and also development partners such as Edward Kallon, UN Resident Coordinator.

GenU Nigeria will be implemented in 12 states distributed across the six geo-political zones in the country; in the North-west, Kano and Kaduna States; South-west, Lagos and Ogun States; North-east, Borno and Bauchi States; South-east, Ebonyi and Enugu States; North-central, Niger and Benue States and from the South-south, Rivers and Cross River States.

Dignitaries present at the launch included Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shuaibu; Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mohammed Abdullahi, and Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Segun Dawodu, who represented the State Governor.

Other dignitaries included UN Resident Coordinator, Edward Kallon; Country Representative, UNICEF Nigeria, Peter Hawkins; Country Managing Partner PwC, Nigeria, Uyi Akpata; Global CEO GenU, Kevin Frey, and representatives of youth groups.