The Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) initiative, a flagship youth empowerment platform by UNICEF, has recorded over 11 million Nigerian youth reached across the country in just four years, marking a major milestone in national youth development efforts.
According to a statement by Blessing Ejiofor, Communication Officer, UNICEF Nigeria, the programme—launched in 2021—has now been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to advancing digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement for young people.
At the annual Steering Committee meeting held in Lagos and co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, stakeholders from government, the private sector, and youth organisations reviewed achievements and set new targets for 2026 and beyond.
Ejiofor noted that in 2025, GenU 9JA expanded its reach through strategic collaborations with Airtel, MTN, IHS Towers, Unilever, Microsoft, Jobberman, CISCO, AfricaRe, and ATC Nigeria. These partnerships provided over 255,000 young people with mobile data and digital learning access.
The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) connected more than 400,000 youth to skills development and employment opportunities, while over 20,000 young women received training in technical and digital fields. Additionally, 85,000 youth benefited from mentorships under the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Programme.
Civic engagement also witnessed a significant boost, with over 665,000 youth participating in social impact projects and 300,000 mobilized for environmental action through the Green Rising Initiative.
Speaking on the programme’s alignment with national priorities, Rimamskeb Nuhu, Special Assistant to the President (Strategy and Policy, Workforce Development) in the Office of the Vice President, said: “The mission of GenU 9JA aligns with the Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI), both of which aim to create sustainable pathways for youth employment and entrepreneurship.”
UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, described the institutionalization of GenU 9JA under the Vice President’s Office as a transformative step. “With over 11 million young Nigerians impacted in four years, we are on track to achieve our goal of supporting 20 million young people in their transition from learning to earning by 2030,” she said.
Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reaffirmed the private sector’s commitment to youth empowerment, stating that young entrepreneurs remain “the engines of Africa’s transformation.”
Looking ahead, GenU 9JA plans to support 2.5 million youth in 2026 through expanded job placements, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities. This includes scaling the YOMA platform from 400,000 to 2 million users, extending Green Rising to universities, and providing grants to youth-led startups.
Youth leader and disability advocate Shamiyah Umar, founder of the We Are Special Foundation and member of UNICEF’s Young People’s Action Team (YPAT), highlighted the programme’s inclusive approach: “At GenU 9JA, young people are not just participants—we are leaders shaping the future we want, regardless of our abilities.”
As the initiative enters its next phase, partners reaffirmed their commitment to collective investment in Nigeria’s youth, recognising them as key drivers of social progress, innovation, and economic transformation.
By 2030, GenU 9JA aims to reach 20 million Nigerians aged 10–24 with digital education, skills training, and civic participation opportunities, through partnerships spanning more than 40 organisations nationwide.
