FG Launches New Scheme to Connect 20 Million Nigerian Youths to Jobs
- The federal government, through the office of the Vice President, has launched a programme to empower youths
- The programme, a UNICEF-led partnership initiative, aims to connect 20 million youths to opportunities by 2030
- Officials say it could help tackle youth unemployment and improve skills development, in line with ongoing reforms
Oluwatobi Odeyinka is a business editor at Legit.ng, covering energy, the money market, technology and macroeconomic trends in Nigeria.
The federal government has inaugurated the Office of the Vice-President–Generation Unlimited (OVP-GenU) Secretariat, aimed at expanding access to education, skills, and job opportunities for Nigerian youths.
The initiative, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, is part of a UNICEF-led Public-Private-Youth Partnership programme targeting the connection of 20 million young Nigerians to learning and livelihood opportunities by 2030.
Source: UGC
Secretariat to drive implementation and partnerships
Speaking at the inauguration on Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, said the new secretariat would accelerate programme execution and strengthen collaboration across government institutions.
He explained that the platform would help align skills development with the needs of communities and industries, adding that accessibility would be ensured through a transparent process.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP).
According to him, the programme is expected to support the Federal Government’s efforts to stimulate local economies across Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards.
Education ministry backs initiative
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the vice-president’s vision provides strategic direction for the secretariat’s operations.
She noted that the Federal Ministry of Education would adopt the GenU programme as a technical guide, particularly its proposed skills census, which would inform planning for vocational and skills training.
UNICEF pledges support
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Abdelatef, described the hosting of the secretariat within the Vice-President’s office as a sign of Nigeria’s commitment to youth development.
She added that Nigeria is showing leadership in Africa by maximising opportunities for job creation and pledged UNICEF’s continued technical support for the programme.
Programme targets youth unemployment
The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, said the initiative has the potential to address rising youth unemployment.
He explained that the programme would leverage existing government platforms, including the Shared Hubs initiative under the National MSME Clinics, to expand skills acquisition across sectors.
Source: Twitter
Application opens for OCHF Quarterly Business Growth Grant
Legit.ng earlier reported that applications have opened for the OCHF Quarterly Business Growth Grant, an initiative designed to support Nigerian entrepreneurs with funding to expand and strengthen their businesses.
The programme, organised by the OCHF Foundation, provides financial support to small business owners who are working to scale their ventures but face challenges accessing capital.
Under the initiative, 10 entrepreneurs will receive N500,000 every quarter as a business support grant aimed at improving productivity, expanding operations, and strengthening market presence.
Source: Legit.ng
