The Vice-President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has officially inaugurated the Office of the Vice-President Generation Unlimited (GenU) Secretariat, marking a significant step in the federal government’s drive to expand youth empowerment and create pathways to education, skills acquisition, and sustainable livelihoods for millions of young Nigerians.
The inauguration, which took place on Tuesday, is part of a broader Public-Private-Youth Partnership initiative led by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aimed at connecting an estimated 20 million young people to opportunities by the year 2030. The programme is designed to address the growing challenges of unemployment and skills mismatch among Nigeria’s youth population by bridging the gap between education, training, and the demands of the labour market.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shettima said the establishment of the secretariat would serve as a central coordinating hub to accelerate the implementation of the GenU initiative and strengthen collaboration across government institutions and development partners. He noted that the platform would play a critical role in aligning youth skills with the needs of industries and local communities, ensuring that young Nigerians are not left behind in a rapidly evolving global economy.
According to him, the secretariat would also promote transparency and inclusiveness, making it easier for young people across the country to access opportunities under the programme without unnecessary barriers.
“This secretariat will accelerate implementation and deepen partnerships across various government agencies. It will help align skills with the demands of the community and industry through a transparent process that ensures accessibility for all,” Shettima said.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, also commended the initiative, stating that the GenU framework aligns closely with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme. He explained that the integration of both programmes would help stimulate local economies at the grassroots level, with a focus on Nigeria’s 8,809 electoral wards.
Bagudu said the initiative represents a strategic effort to decentralize development and ensure that economic opportunities reach communities at the lowest levels of governance, thereby promoting inclusive growth and reducing regional disparities.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the Vice-President’s leadership has provided clear direction for the implementation of the GenU programme. She assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would fully support the initiative, particularly in the area of technical guidance and the conduct of a skills census across the country.
According to her, the findings from the skills census would be instrumental in shaping the country’s approach to vocational and technical education, enabling policymakers to design targeted training programmes that respond to actual labour market demands.
She noted that the integration of the GenU framework into the education sector would help reposition Nigeria’s youth for productivity and innovation, while also strengthening the country’s human capital base.
Also speaking at the event, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Abdelatef, described the hosting of the GenU Secretariat in the Office of the Vice-President as a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to youth development and empowerment.
She said the initiative places Nigeria in a leadership position on the continent, particularly in advancing programmes that maximise opportunities for young people through partnerships, innovation, and targeted investments.
Abdelatef added that UNICEF remains committed to supporting the GenU initiative, especially by providing technical expertise and support for the implementation of key programmes under the framework.
“Nigeria is demonstrating leadership on the continent in maximising the impact of all accelerators for job creation. UNICEF will continue to support this initiative, particularly by bringing in technical expertise in specific programmes,” she said.
The GenU Nigeria initiative is expected to play a central role in shaping the country’s youth development strategy over the coming years, with a focus on equipping young people with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed to thrive in a competitive and rapidly changing global environment.
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