UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s youth development efforts and reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to empowering young people through education, digital access, and job creation.
Since its inception in 2021, GenU 9JA has directly impacted over 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, providing access to digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement opportunities.
The initiative has placed special emphasis on young women and marginalized youth to promote inclusion and equal opportunity.
The announcement was made at the annual Generation Unlimited Steering Committee meeting held in Lagos, co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
The meeting brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, and development partners to review progress and chart a new course for 2026 and beyond.
Rimamskeb Nuhu, Special Assistant to the President on Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), described the initiative as a key driver of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said GenU 9JA aligns with the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI), both of which are focused on creating sustainable employment and entrepreneurship pathways for young Nigerians.
According to Ms. Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, institutionalizing GenU 9JA under the Vice President’s Office demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to building a future where every young person can thrive.
“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 stated.
In 2025 alone, GenU 9JA expanded its partnerships with major organizations including Airtel, MTN, IHS Towers, Unilever, Microsoft, Jobberman, CISCO, AfricaRe, and ATC Nigeria, enabling more than 255,000 young people to access mobile data and online learning platforms.
The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) connected 400,000 youth to skills training and job opportunities, while the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Program provided mentorship for 85,000 youth and technical training for 20,000 young women.
Civic engagement and environmental action also gained momentum, with over 665,000 youth participating in social impact projects nationwide.
Through the Green Rising initiative, more than 300,000 young Nigerians were mobilized for climate action and community-based sustainability programs.
Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reaffirmed the private sector’s pivotal role in youth empowerment.
“The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, are the engines of Africa’s transformation.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation will continue to provide mentorship, resources, and networks to help young people build sustainable businesses,” she said.
Looking ahead, GenU 9JA plans to support an additional 2.5 million youth in 2026 through expanded job creation, entrepreneurship training, and innovation grants.
The program aims to scale the YOMA platform to reach 2 million users, extend Green Rising to universities, and fund youth-led start-ups across the country.For Shamiyah Umar, a member of UNICEF’s Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) and founder of the We Are Special Foundation, the initiative has been life-changing.
“Being part of GenU 9JA has allowed me to make a meaningful difference in my community and promote inclusion for people with disabilities.
Here, young people are not just participants — we are leaders shaping the future we want,” she said.
As GenU 9JA transitions into its next phase under the Office of the Vice President, partners from across sectors have reaffirmed their collective commitment to investing in young Nigerians as drivers of innovation, sustainability, and national development