Nigerian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has announced an initiative between the Buhari administration and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which would attempt to provide education, training and employment to 20 million Nigerian youths between now and 2030.
Osinbajo made this disclosure on today at the official launch of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) programme for Nigeria.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the global multi-sector partnership was initially launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners.
The programme has impacted more than 100 million young people globally in more than 40 countries across six continents.
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The federal government, last month, said a collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and private sector partners will provide a 20,000 yearly graduate job fellowship called the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP).
On the GenU programme, Osinbajo explained that 20 million will gain digital skills and will be linked to entrepreneurial and other job opportunities.
He said the process is not only significant for our socio-economic development as a nation but also provides a learning asset for developing future job growth enabling programmes.”
‘Nigeria has one of the world’s largest young populations. And it bears repeating that our country’s youth is the nation’s present and indeed its future. The cost of failing to invest in them is quite simply, unimaginable.
‘We are excited to be a part of the ambitious goal of reaching young Nigerians with this opportunity. The work is massive, and we know we cannot achieve this objective without strong partnerships.’
The presidency, relevant ministries, state governments and the international community will be collaborating with Generation Unlimited to make the initiative a success.
GenU Nigeria will have three key components; Digital Skills Development, The Workforce Readiness Programme and Youth Engagement and will be implemented in 12 states.
North-West – Kano and Kaduna; South-West – Lagos and Ogun; North-East – Borno and Bauchi; South-East – Ebonyi and Enugu; North-Central – Niger and Benue; South-South – Rivers and Cross River.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK