Shettima launches GenU Nigeria secretariat to empower 20 million youths

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the GenU Nigeria secretariat, a major youth empowerment initiative aimed at connecting 20 million young people to education, skills, and livelihood opportunities by 2030.

The programme, known as Generation Unlimited (GenU), is a UNICEF-led Public-Private-Youth Partnership designed to bridge the gap between education and employment while strengthening youth-focused development across the country.

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At the inauguration, Shettima said the secretariat would speed up implementation of the initiative by improving coordination across government agencies and ensuring better alignment between skills development and labour market needs.

He added that the structure would support a more transparent system that makes access to opportunities easier for young Nigerians, especially in underserved communities.

Budget and economic planning officials also linked the programme to the federal government’s ward-based development strategy, which targets economic stimulation across thousands of local government wards nationwide.

Education officials further noted that the initiative would complement ongoing vocational and technical training reforms, particularly through the planned skills census that will guide future workforce planning.

UNICEF and stakeholders highlight long-term youth development goals

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) welcomed the establishment of the secretariat in the Vice President’s office, describing it as a sign of Nigeria’s commitment to youth development and job creation.

UNICEF also pledged technical support for the programme, particularly in strengthening implementation frameworks and expanding access to digital and vocational opportunities.

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Stakeholders say the initiative could play a key role in addressing unemployment challenges by building structured pathways that connect education systems with real-world skills and enterprise opportunities across the country.