Official Launch Of Generation Unlimited (GenU) Nigeria On 26/07/2021

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF GENERATION UNLIMITED (GenU) NIGERIA ON THE 26TH OF JULY, 2021

PROTOCOLS

I am delighted to join you today for the official launch of the Generation Unlimited programme in Nigeria. This programme is important because it promises to provide twenty million young Nigerians with digital skills, link them to entrepreneurial and other job opportunities and assist them in realizing their full potential.

GenU is an initiative of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in launched in September 2018, in collaboration with over 200 partners. It has reached to date, more than 100 million young people through innovations and programmes in some 40 countries across six continents.

Nigeria has one of the world’s largest young populations and it bears repeating that our country’s youth are the nation’s present and indeed its future. The cost of failing to invest in them is unimaginable. So, we are excited to be a part of the ambitious goal of reaching young Nigerians with this opportunity.

The work is massive, and we know we cannot achieve this objective without strong partnerships. The Presidency, the relevant Ministries and State Governments will be collaborating with Generation Unlimited Nigeria, the private sector, the international community and our young people themselves to make this a reality.

After extensive consultations with critical stakeholders, it is agreed that GenU Nigeria will have three key components; Digital Skills Development, The Workforce Readiness Programme and Youth Engagement.

Youth Employment and especially the empowerment of female entrepreneurs is a major aspect of GenU Nigeria.

I would like to specially commend Airtel, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Jobberman Nigeria, amongst others, for their innovative work with young entrepreneurs throughout the country and for their commitment to GenU Nigeria.

Over the next couple of years, we will provide digital learning, employment, entrepreneurship and engagement for and with 20 million young Nigerians.

This process is not only significant for our socio-economic development in the coming years but also provides a learning asset for developing future job growth enabling programmes.

We are grateful for the commitment of our development partners, private sector and civil society collaborators that have made this possible.

It is now my pleasure and privilege to officially launch the Generation Unlimited Nigeria programme.

Thank you and God bless you!