By Patrick Ahanor, Benin City
The UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) Public-Private-Youth-Partnership (PPYP) Platform has convened its annual Steering Committee at the Airtel Headquarters in Lagos.
The meeting was attended by GenU 9JA partners from the Federal and State governments, private sector, civil society, development partners, and young people from across Nigeria.
The gathering was geared to celebrate three years of groundbreaking achievements and set ambitious targets for the future.
It also reaffirmed GenU 9JA’s commitment to transforming the lives of millions of Nigerian children and youths by bridging the digital gap, enhancing the quality of learning and skilling to prepare them for the world of work and connecting them to livelihood opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Carl Cruz, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, emphasized the transformative potential of digital access, citing the ongoing UNICEF-Airtel Reimagine Education Program, a central part of the GenU 9JA initiative.
Cruz stated that 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.
Since its inception, in 2021, UNICEF GenU 9JA has empowered nearly 9 million young Nigerians, surpassing the three-year target of 7.5 million.
The milestone positions the initiative well on its journey to achieving its 2030 goal of supporting 20 million young people transitioning from learning to earning.
The committee reviewed progress across its three core pillars: Connectivity and Digital Learning, Workplace Readiness, and Youth Engagement. Key partners presented updates on collective contributions, underlining how collaboration has driven success.
Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), highlighted the impact of youth entrepreneurship
The CEO said: “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, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and South Africa, with green-focused training, mentorship, and seed capital to advance sustainable ventures.”
On his part, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, reiterated the urgency for continued investment in youth
He noted that “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 GenU 9JA Achievements Over Three Years include, digital Learning and Connectivity.
Over 3 million young Nigerians now have access to digital learning tools, such as the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) and the Youth Agency Market Place (YOMA) bridging educational gaps in underserved areas.
On workplace Readiness: Over 2 million youth have gained work-related skills and livelihood opportunities.
Besides, the Youth Engagement boost of nearly 3 million youths have participated in youth-led programmes, amplifying their voices as change makers in their communities.
The committee concluded with a call for continued investment in Nigeria’s children and youth.
To sustain the momentum, UNICEF GenU 9JA urges the government, private sector, and civil society to further their support to children and youth, ensuring they are prepared for meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s development.
In 2018, UNICEF launched the global Generation Unlimited movement to meet the urgent needs of young people between the ages of 10-24, expanding learning, skill development, employment, and engagement opportunities.
The Nigeria chapter of Generation Unlimited – GenU 9JA – was launched in 2021.
Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) at UNICEF, is an ambitious multi-stakeholder Public-Private-Youth-Partnership (PPYP) platform that aims to prepare young people to transition from education and learning to productive work and active citizenship.
It was formed by UNICEF, together with public and private sector partners, development partners, civil society organizations, foundations, and young people.
UNICEF GenU 9JA Partners includes: UNICEF; Tony Elumelu Foundation; Airtel Nigeria; MTN; ATC Nigeria; PwC; Tech4Dev; Cisco; Unilever; GIZ Nigeria and Jobberman.
Other partners are: IHS Nigeria; Microsoft; UNDP; ILO; World Bank; UNFPA; AFDB; LSETF; LSMYSD; USAID DAI; Netherlands Embassy; DSM-Firmenich; SDSN Nigeria; Federal Ministry of Education and Nigerian Girls Guilds Association.
