GenU 9JA : Stakeholders, UNICEF evaluate progress to provide jobs for 20m youths

Nigerians from public and private sectors have met to assess GenU 9JA’s progress toward delivering job-related skills and livelihood opportunities to 20 million youths by 2030.

The UNICEF Nigeria representative, Mr Peter Hawkins, in a statement on Friday in Lagos acknowledged that young people are tremendous resource for Nigeria.

Our correspondent reports that Generation Unlimited (GenU) 9JA was launched by the Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo on July 27, 2021.

GenU is instituted by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 General Assembly and spearheaded by UNICEF.

Hawkins said that Nigeria’s youth population represented a great economic potential that guaranteed sure return on investment.

“And, we can help realise the youth potential by listening to their challenges and empowering them to find the solutions.

“The youths also have the right to fulfil their potential and dreams. If we get it right in Nigeria, it will make a huge difference for the African continent as a whole,” he said.

Mrs Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, Chief Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu Foundation said the possibility for growth was unlimited when large percentage of young people are well prepared to fulfil their dreams,”

“This initiative is especially important to us at the Tony Elumelu Foundation. This is as the core of our work revolves around empowering young Africans.

“We remain committed to doing this because we know that the future of Africa rests in the hands of young people, and we want to keep playing a key part in shaping Africa’s future.

“We are proud to be part of this historic transformation in the lives of 20 million Nigerian boys and girls,” Ugochukwu said.

Our correspondent also reports that Generation Unlimited, the world’s first global Public-Private-Youth Partnership Platform has a mission to skill and connect the world’s 1.8 billion young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

The partnership brings together global organisations and leaders, including Heads of State, Chief Executive Officers, Heads of UN agencies, and civil society champions; with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.

GenU 9JA has already made headway in providing connectivity, digital skills and job opportunities to no fewer than 300,000 Nigerian youths.

With over 65 million young people between the ages of 10 – 24, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, representing an extraordinary opportunity for development and growth.

Given that, the youth unemployment rate currently stands at 37 per cent in Nigeria and GenU 9JA has set objectives to equip 20 million youths, including those in underserved rural and peri-urban communities, with access to data, digital learning, job-related skills and livelihood opportunities by 2030.

With over 20 implementing partners currently on board GenU 9JA, millions of Nigerian school children and youths will be connected to the internet and have access to digital learning.

They will also have access to individualised learning pathways, social impact tasks, and livelihood opportunities through the “Youth Agency Market Place,” #YOMA.