Daud Olatunji
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a major milestone in its youth empowerment initiative as Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The institutionalization, which underscores the Federal Government’s growing commitment to youth development and digital empowerment, was announced during the annual Steering Committee meeting held in Lagos.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, with key representatives from government, private sector, development partners, and youth organizations in attendance.
Since its launch in 2021, GenU 9JA has reached more than 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory—empowering them through access to digital learning, entrepreneurship, skills development, and civic engagement.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Country Representative in Nigeria, described the institutionalization as a “transformative step” in Nigeria’s youth agenda.
“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,” Saeed said.
“This step reflects the government’s strong commitment to creating opportunities for young people across the country.”
Rimamskeb Nuhu, Special Assistant to the President on Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development) in the Office of the Vice President, explained that GenU 9JA directly aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI).
“The mission of GenU 9JA is consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to expand youth employment, digital access, and entrepreneurship opportunities,” Nuhu stated.
In 2025 alone, GenU 9JA deepened its impact through new strategic partnerships with leading organizations including Airtel, MTN, IHS Towers, Unilever, Microsoft, Jobberman, CISCO, AfricaRe, and ATC Nigeria.
These collaborations provided over 255,000 young Nigerians with free mobile data and digital learning access.
The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) initiative also connected 400,000 young people to livelihood and empowerment opportunities, while the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Programme mentored 85,000 youth, including 20,000 young women who acquired technical and digital skills.
Civic participation received a significant boost as well, with 665,000 youth engaging in social impact projects and over 300,000 mobilized for environmental action through the Green Rising initiative.
Somachi Chris-Asoluka, Chief Executive Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to youth empowerment across Africa.
“The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, are the engines of Africa’s transformation,” she said.
“Through our partnership with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, we will continue to provide mentorship, resources, and networks to help young Africans build sustainable businesses.”
Looking ahead to 2026, GenU 9JA plans to expand its reach by providing 2.5 million additional young Nigerians with jobs, skills training, and entrepreneurship support.
The initiative also aims to grow YOMA’s user base from 400,000 to 2 million, expand Green Rising into universities nationwide, and fund more youth-led start-ups.
For many young beneficiaries, the programme has been life-changing. Shamiyah Umar, founder of We Are Special Foundation and a member of UNICEF’s Young People’s Action Team (YPAT), shared her experience:
“Being a part of UNICEF GenU 9JA has allowed me to make a meaningful difference in my community and positively impact the lives of people with disabilities,” Umar said.
“At GenU 9JA, young people are not just participants; we are leaders shaping the future we want, despite our diverse abilities.”
Partners at the Lagos meeting reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing youth development, stressing that empowering young Nigerians remains central to achieving sustainable national growth.
Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) is UNICEF’s flagship youth empowerment platform launched in 2021 to support Nigerians aged 10–24 in their transition from learning to earning.
Co-led by the Office of the Vice President and UNICEF, the initiative aims to reach 20 million youth by 2030 through digital education, skills development, and civic engagement.
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