National News
UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria Impacts Over 11 Million Youth in Four Years
UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria Impacts Over 11 Million Youth in Four Years
By: Michael Mike
Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), UNICEF’s Public-Private-Youth-Partnership platform, has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President, which marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s youth development initiatives.
According to a statement by the Communication Officer, United Nations Children’s Fund, Blessing Ejiofor, since its launch in 2021, GenU 9JA has successfully impacted over 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a particular emphasis on young women and marginalized youth, adding that, the initiative provides vital access to digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement opportunities.
Ejiofor noted that during the annual Steering Committee meeting in Lagos, co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, representatives from government, the private sector, development partners, and youth leaders convened to review progress and set priorities for 2026 and beyond.
She said in 2025, GenU 9JA significantly enhanced 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, stressing that the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) programme successfully connected more than 400,000 youth to skills development, livelihoods and empowerment opportunities, with around 20,000 young women acquiring technical and digital skills and over 85,000 receiving mentorships through the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Program. Civic engagement saw a notable increase, with over 665,000 youth participating in social impact initiatives, and more than 300,000 youth mobilized for environmental action through the Green Rising initiative.
According to the Special Assistant to the President, Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), Office of the Vice President (OVP) Rimamskeb Nuhu, “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.”
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, announced that GenU 9JA has been institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President. “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,” Wafa stated. “This step reflects the government’s strong commitment to creating opportunities for young people across the country.”
“The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, are the engines of Africa’s transformation. The Tony Elumelu Foundation will continue to provide Africa’s youth with the mentorship, resources, and networks that is 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 is looking to support 2.5 million youth with jobs, training, and entrepreneurship in 2026. This plan will include scaling YOMA from the current 400,000 to 2 million users, 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, recognizing them as central to Nigeria’s social and economic progress.
GenU 9JA Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) is UNICEF’s youth platform launched in 2021 to support Nigerians aged 10–24 in transitioning from learning to earning. By 2030, it aims to reach 20 million youth with digital education, skills, and civic opportunities. Co-led by the Vice President and UNICEF, GenU 9JA has empowered over 11 million youth through partnerships with 40+ organizations nationwide.
Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), UNICEF’s Public-Private-Youth-Partnership platform, has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President, which marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s youth development initiatives.
According to a statement by the Communication Officer, United Nations Children’s Fund, Blessing Ejiofor, since its launch in 2021, GenU 9JA has successfully impacted over 11 million young Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a particular emphasis on young women and marginalized youth, adding that, the initiative provides vital access to digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement opportunities.
Ejiofor noted that during the annual Steering Committee meeting in Lagos, co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, representatives from government, the private sector, development partners, and youth leaders convened to review progress and set priorities for 2026 and beyond.
She said in 2025, GenU 9JA significantly enhanced 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, stressing that the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) programme successfully connected more than 400,000 youth to skills development, livelihoods and empowerment opportunities, with around 20,000 young women acquiring technical and digital skills and over 85,000 receiving mentorships through the Future-X Campus Ambassadors Program. Civic engagement saw a notable increase, with over 665,000 youth participating in social impact initiatives, and more than 300,000 youth mobilized for environmental action through the Green Rising initiative.
According to the Special Assistant to the President, Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), Office of the Vice President (OVP) Rimamskeb Nuhu, “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.”
UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Saeed, announced that GenU 9JA has been institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President. “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,” Wafa stated. “This step reflects the government’s strong commitment to creating opportunities for young people across the country.”
“The private sector, particularly young entrepreneurs, are the engines of Africa’s transformation. The Tony Elumelu Foundation will continue to provide Africa’s youth with the mentorship, resources, and networks that is 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 is looking to support 2.5 million youth with jobs, training, and entrepreneurship in 2026. This plan will include scaling YOMA from the current 400,000 to 2 million users, 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, recognizing them as central to Nigeria’s social and economic progress.
GenU 9JA Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) is UNICEF’s youth platform launched in 2021 to support Nigerians aged 10–24 in transitioning from learning to earning. By 2030, it aims to reach 20 million youth with digital education, skills, and civic opportunities. Co-led by the Vice President and UNICEF, GenU 9JA has empowered over 11 million youth through partnerships with 40+ organizations nationwide.
UNICEF Generation Unlimited Nigeria Impacts Over 11 Million Youth in Four Years
National News
ECOWAS Court Delegation Undertakes Study Visits on Enforcement of Human Rights Decisions
ECOWAS Court Delegation Undertakes Study Visits on Enforcement of Human Rights Decisions
By: Michael Mike
A delegation from the Community Court of Justice (ECOWAS Court) led by the President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves embarked on a study visit to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, and other key institutions in Sweden.
The tour, which took place between 23 and 29 November 2025, has as core objective to provide the delegation from the ECOWAS Court with practical insights into the enforcement of human rights judgments from regional and international courts.
According to a statement from ECOWAS Court, the weeklong visit focused on learning from the experiences of other international courts and institutions, while also providing a platform for the ECOWAS Court to share its own experiences.
The statement further revealed that the study visit was intended to enhance the ECOWAS Court’s enforcement mechanisms and significantly improve compliance with its human rights judgments.
The visit was organised by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) as part of its programme aimed at increasing the implementation of human rights decisions of continental and regional human rights institutions in Africa.
The delegation led by the President of the Court included the Hon. Vice-President of the Court, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, and Members of the Court, Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara and Justice Dupe Atoki. Others were the Chief Registrar of the Court, Director of Research and Documentation, as well as selected staff of the Registry, Administration and Finance Department and the Language Services division of the Court. Two staff of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute were also present.
ECOWAS Court Delegation Undertakes Study Visits on Enforcement of Human Rights Decisions
National News
Onaiyekan Asks Tinubu to Equip the Current Security Operatives for Better Performance, Drop Employment of 20,000 Policemen
Onaiyekan Asks Tinubu to Equip the Current Security Operatives for Better Performance, Drop Employment of 20,000 Policemen
By: Michael Mike
Former Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has told President Bola Tinubu to treat as top priority the equipping of the present crops of policemen and security operatives to combat the perennial insecurity in the nation instead of giving order for the employment of additional 20,000 policemen.
Speaking at the 9th International Conference on Love and Tolerance in Abuja, the respected cleric warned that the nation cannot afford delays in tackling insecurity.
He said: “Right now in Nigeria, we have to build bridges so that all of us, Christians and Muslims, can jointly face our common enemy… Those who are killing us.
“We have finally agreed that we shall join hands and face them. And if we join hands, we can deal with them now. We should be able to deal with them.”
He added that: “With all these wonderful soldiers and police, we should be able to deal with them. I’m not even sure we need 20,000 more policemen. I believe they are the ones we have right now. Arm them well, treat them well, and they will do their job.”
He said: “There is no need to deploy 20,000 policemen. We could use the policemen we have. I’m not an expert, but to train them and then deploy them, for an emergency. Let the experts tell me how long does it take to deploy 20,000 people. I guess we are talking of one year. In one month, this country can be destroyed.”
“So I’m saying we should look at a strategy that will address the issue right now. We should equip the policemen we have now, who are already trained though, but they are carrying bags for madams. It’s good that they have been withdrawn; Let them start working.
“And let there be the political will to flush the terrorists out of the forest. And we are glad that the language that our president spoke yesterday; but weve been listening to that since two years ago.
“What do you have police for? That’s their job. It’s not even the job of the army. It’s the job of the police.” He said.
He also reflected on global religious harmony, warning that Nigeria faces increasing local polarisation despite global unity efforts, referencing the “Abu Dhabi document” signed by Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar.
A renowned activist and Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, highlighted the root causes of intolerance and conflict, noting that human differences in wealth, power, race, and religion often drive dominance and resistance.
He emphasized that differences are natural and unavoidable, and that peace and tolerance begin with recognizing and accepting human diversity.
Sani expressed concern over shrinking freedom of speech, insisting that the arrests and social media scrutiny threaten open dialogue, and urged that love, understanding, and respect for differing opinions are essential for building a harmonious society.
On his part, the President of UFUK Dialogue Foundation, Emrah Ilgen, whose organisation convened the international conference, said the gathering was created to address the urgent need for healing in a deeply divided world.
He said the theme “Bridging Divides: Building Trust in a Polarized World” was chosen to confront rising global and local tensions, emphasising that the world is experiencing dangerous levels of mistrust driven by misinformation, fear, ethnic divisions, and religious misconceptions.
He explained that UFUK Dialogue has, for more than a decade, committed itself to building bridges between communities and promoting dialogue that encourages understanding rather than suspicion.
“Humanity is strongest when it chooses dialogue over suspicion, compassion over conflict, and understanding over prejudice,” he said.
In his welcome address, Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, represented by Dr. Emmanuel Mamman, said Nigeria is facing deepening mistrust, widening identity divides, and increasing misinformation, stressing that trust must be rebuilt through fairness, dialogue, and inclusion of women and youths.
He said: “Polarization is not destiny. Mistrust, though deep, remains reversible.”
The DG added that traditional and religious institutions remain pillars of social harmony, and collaboration with groups like UFUK Dialogue is essential in restoring national cohesion.
Onaiyekan Asks Tinubu to Equip the Current Security Operatives for Better Performance, Drop Employment of 20,000 Policemen
National News
VP Shettima Mourns Passing Of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Says Nigeria Has Lost A Beacon Of Knowledge
VP Shettima Mourns Passing Of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Says Nigeria Has Lost A Beacon Of Knowledge
By: Michael Mike
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sadness over the passing of revered Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, leader of the Tijjaniyya Muslim Brotherhood in Nigeria, who died at the age of 101.
VP Shettima noted that Sheikh Dahiru’s extraordinary longevity was itself a divine blessing that allowed multiple generations of Nigerian Muslims to benefit from his profound knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.
In a condolence message on Thursday, the Vice President described the late spiritual leader as one of Nigeria’s greatest Islamic scholars whose teachings and exemplary life touched millions of Muslims across the country and beyond.
He said: “We have lost a spiritual guide, a teacher, and a moral compass whose dedication to Islamic scholarship spanned more than a century. Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi was among the great pillars of Islamic knowledge in our time. His life was a demonstration of faith, learning, and service to Allah and humanity.
VP Shettima noted that the Sheikh’s extraordinary life allowed multiple generations of Nigerian Muslims to benefit from his profound knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.
He praised the late Islamic scholar’s lifelong commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge and his pivotal role in strengthening the Tijjaniyya Brotherhood in Nigeria and West Africa.
“We find comfort in knowing he lived a long, fulfilled life devoted to Allah and to uplifting humanity. His legacy of scholarship and service will continue to inspire us all,” the Vice President added.
“I pray that Almighty Allah will forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus. May Allah also grant his family, the Tijjaniyya Brotherhood, and the entire Muslim Ummah the fortitude to bear this loss,” VP Shettima said.
VP Shettima Mourns Passing Of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Says Nigeria Has Lost A Beacon Of Knowledge
Social media reckless leaks of U.S. ISR flights over Lake Chad force ISWAP fighters to relocate
Nine killed in katsina-ala multiple crash as nurtw officials arrested over road blockade
Police arrest own inspector, brother over alleged attack and forceful seizure of corpse in Benue
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
