Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a UNICEF-backed public-private-youth partnership initiative, has been officially institutionalised under the Office of the Vice President following its impact on over 11 million young Nigerians across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory since its launch in 2021.

The milestone was announced during the annual GenU 9JA Steering Committee meeting in Lagos, co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The gathering brought together senior representatives from government, private sector, development partners, and youth leaders to review progress and plan for 2026 and beyond.

Designed to support young Nigerians aged 10-24 in their move from education to employment, the platform focuses on providing vital access to digital learning, employment opportunities, and civic engagement, with special emphasis on young women and marginalised youth.

In 2025, GenU 9JA greatly increased its impact by forming strategic partnerships with Airtel, MTN, IHS Towers, Unilever, Microsoft, Jobberman, CISCO, AfricaRe, and ATC Nigeria, providing over 255,000 young people with access to mobile data and digital learning resources.

The Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) programme successfully connected more than 400,000 young people to skills development, livelihoods, and empowerment opportunities, with around 20,000 young women acquiring technical and digital skills and over 85,000 receiving mentorship through the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Programme.

Civic engagement saw a notable rise, with over 665,000 young people participating in social impact initiatives, and more than 300,000 mobilised for environmental action via the Green Rising initiative.

According to Rimamskeb Nuhu, Special Assistant to the President, Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), Office of the Vice President, “the mission of GenU 9JA aligns with the Government of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI), initiatives that aim to open more pathways for youth employment and entrepreneurship.”

Ms Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, who announced that GenU 9JA has been institutionalised under the Office of the Vice President, said, “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.”

“This step reflects the government’s strong commitment to creating opportunities for young people across the country. The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, is the engine of Africa’s transformation.”

“The Tony Elumelu Foundation will continue to provide Africa’s youth with the mentorship, resources, and networks that are required to build sustainable businesses through our partnership with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited.” Added Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Despite the progress made so far, GenU 9JA aims to support 2.5 million youth with jobs, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities in 2026. This plan will include scaling YOMA from its current 400,000 users to two million, expanding Green Rising to universities, and offering grants to youth-led start-ups.

Shamiyah Umar, a member of the UNICEF Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) and the founder of the We Are Special Foundation, stated, “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. At GenU 9JA, young people are not just participants; we are leaders shaping the future we want, despite our diverse abilities.”

As the initiative enters its next phase, partners reaffirmed their commitment to collective action and investment in young people, recognising them as central to Nigeria’s social and economic progress.