FG launches GenU secretariat to link 20 million Nigerian youths to skills, jobs by 2030

The federal government has launched a national secretariat to coordinate the implementation of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) Nigeria initiative, a programme aimed at connecting 20 million young Nigerians to education, skills development and employment opportunities by 2030.

Vice President Kashim Shettima inaugurated the Office of the Vice President–Generation Unlimited (OVP-GenU) Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja, describing it as a key step toward accelerating youth-focused programmes across the country. He was represented at the event by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia.

Shettima said the secretariat would strengthen coordination among government institutions and partners while fast-tracking the execution of programmes designed to equip young people with relevant skills.

According to him, the initiative will also help align skill development with the needs of industries and communities through a transparent and accessible system.

Generation Unlimited Nigeria is a UNICEF-led Public-Private-Youth Partnership designed to expand access to learning, vocational skills and livelihood opportunities for young people.

Also speaking, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which targets economic growth at the grassroots level across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards.

Bagudu pledged his ministry’s support for the initiative, noting that it could help stimulate local economies and support job creation efforts.

Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, also welcomed the initiative, stating that it would provide strategic direction for skills development in the country. She added that the Ministry of Education plans to adopt aspects of the programme, including a proposed national skills census, to support planning for technical and vocational education.