20 Million Youths Set to Gain Digital Skills as the Nigerian Government Strengthens UNICEF Alliance
At the center of this effort is the Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) platform — a public-private partnership dedicated to supporting Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 24 to transition from learning to earning through access to digital tools, training, and entrepreneurship.
In a renewed push to transform Nigeria into a digitally empowered nation, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to equipping 20 million young Nigerians with digital skills by 2030, through a revitalised partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF ) — a move aimed at tackling unemployment, boosting innovation, and unlocking the economic potential of the country’s youth.
The announcement was made by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a high-level engagement at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with senior officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), including Mohammed Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF Deputy Representative; and Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office.
At the center of this effort is the Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) platform — a public-private partnership dedicated to supporting Nigerians between the ages of 10 and 24 to transition from learning to earning through access to digital tools, training, and entrepreneurship.
Vice President Shettima, who formally accepted the role of Chairman of the GenU 9JA Board, described the initiative as a national imperative.
“It is an honour for me to serve as the Chairman of Generation Unlimited (GenU 9JA). This platform offers a vista of opportunities for our young people. Beyond rhetoric, if we truly wish to survive and thrive, we must empower our youth through digital means. That is the only way forward. The GenU 9JA initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive development, digital innovation, and youth empowerment as essential tools for national transformation.”
– Kashim Shettima, Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
As digital access becomes central to national competitiveness, this renewed commitment places Nigeria on a strategic path to cultivate its most valuable resource — its young population.
