Vice-President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Office of the Vice-President–Generation Unlimited (OVP-GenU) Secretariat, a major step toward empowering young Nigerians with skills, education, and employment opportunities.
The initiative, known as Generation Unlimited (GenU), is a programme led by UNICEF. It aims to connect 20 million Nigerian youths to meaningful opportunities by the year 2030 through a collaborative effort involving government, private sector, and youth partners.
Represented at the event by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia, Shettima said the establishment of the secretariat would accelerate the implementation of the programme. He explained that it would also strengthen coordination among relevant government agencies and partners.
According to him, the secretariat is designed to align young people’s skills with the needs of communities and industries. He emphasized that the process would be transparent and inclusive, ensuring accessibility for youths across the country.
Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, noted that the GenU framework aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP). He said the initiative would help stimulate economic growth at the grassroots level by targeting all 8,809 electoral wards nationwide.
On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the programme as a strategic guide for skills development. She stated that the Ministry of Education would adopt its framework, particularly the skills census, to enhance vocational and technical training across Nigeria.
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The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Abdelatef, commended the Federal Government for hosting the secretariat within the Office of the Vice-President. She described the move as a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to youth development and job creation.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Mr. Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, highlighted the programme’s potential to tackle youth unemployment. He added that existing platforms, such as the Shared Hubs initiative, would be leveraged to expand skills acquisition and create sustainable livelihoods.
The GenU initiative is expected to play a vital role in reducing unemployment and empowering millions of Nigerian youths for the future.