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Youth

UNICEF and Unilever's Partnership Achieves Impressive Results in Nigeria

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Generation Unlimited (GenU) Naija initiative, a partnership between UNICEF and Unilever, has made significant progress in Nigeria, impacting over 600,000 young Nigerians and reaching over five million students with career and employability skills. The program's goals are ambitious, aiming to impact 700,000 Nigerian youths by 2026. The partnership's success has been a collaborative effort, involving multiple global and local stakeholders, including Microsoft, SAP, IHS, Airtel, and Nigerian federal and state government bodies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The GenU Naija initiative has already impacted over 600,000 young Nigerians, with a goal of reaching 700,000 by 2026.
  • The partnership has reached over five million students with career and employability skills, with a focus on soft skills, leadership, and workplace readiness.
  • The program includes in-person seminars, online learning, and real-world internship opportunities to help youth apply their knowledge in practical work environments.
  • Unilever's level-up entrepreneurship skills course is a key offering, designed to help young Nigerians become job creators, not just job seekers.
  • The initiative has mobilized significant support from multiple global and local stakeholders, including Nigerian government bodies and international corporations.
  • Prof. Afolabi Leshi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, University of Lagos, has emphasized the alignment between UNILAG's strategic vision and the goals of the FUCAP initiative, focusing on building the capacity of students to anticipate and solve emerging societal problems.
  • Oreoluwa Dina, HR and Employer Brand Project Specialist at Unilever, noted that the initiative has already exceeded expectations, impacting over 200,000 young people in just two years, with an additional 150,000 in this year alone.

Statistics:

  • Over 600,000 young Nigerians have been impacted by the GenU Naija initiative.
  • The program has reached over five million students with career and employability skills.
  • The initiative aims to impact 700,000 Nigerian youths by 2026.
  • Unilever's level-up entrepreneurship skills course has been designed to help young Nigerians become job creators, not just job seekers.
  • The program includes in-person seminars and online learning, covering topics such as CV writing, career path selection, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurship.
  • Youth unemployment is a significant challenge in Nigeria, with over 70% of the population under the age of 30.

Sources:

  • "UNICEF, Unilever pledge to empower 600,000 Nigerian youth through GenU Naija" (UNICEF Nigeria, no date)
  • "Generation Unlimited Naija" (UNICEF Nigeria, no date)
  • "UNILAG, UNICEF, Unilever partner on Future-X Campus Ambassadors Programme" (University of Lagos, no date)
  • "Oreoluwa Dina, HR and Employer Brand Project Specialist at Unilever, quoted in an interview" (no date)

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