The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a national skills programme aimed at connecting 20 million young Nigerians to jobs, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities by 2030. At least 60% of the beneficiaries are expected to be women. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the plan during the inaugural meeting of the reactivated Board of Generation Unlimited (GenU) Nigeria, which coincided with International Youth Day 2025.
Shettima emphasized the importance of harnessing Nigeria’s youthful population, describing them as the nation’s “superpower” in a rapidly ageing world. He warned that the national skills ecosystem faces a “trilemma” of exclusion, disconnection from livelihoods, and inadequate infrastructure for large-scale hands-on learning. To address this, the government has introduced the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI), a demand-driven national talent pipeline that will link foundational and work-readiness training directly to guaranteed jobs or enterprise pathways.
The Vice President pledged that all training under DALI will align with the National Skills Qualification Framework, ensuring that young Nigerians possess globally competitive credentials. He urged the new board to proceed with the full development and implementation of DALI, emphasizing that it should be a turning point in addressing youth unemployment. The initiative aims to provide systemic change, unifying government, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth under a single banner to attract coordinated investment.
The programme has already benefited over 10 million youths through flagship initiatives such as the FUCAP Campus Ambassadors Programme, Passport to Earning with Microsoft, Green Rising, and the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership with FCDO. The UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, described Nigerian youths as “the most critical assets of the country and the continent,” urging stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to supporting initiatives like GenU 9JA.
The launch of this national skills programme marks a significant step towards addressing youth unemployment and empowering young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive. With a focus on job creation, bridging the skills gap, and human capital development, the programme is expected to have a lasting impact on the country’s economic future.
