Vice-President Kashim Shettima has inaugurated the Office of the Vice-President–Generation Unlimited (OVP-GenU) Secretariat to accelerate youth-focused programmes across the country.
The initiative, a UNICEF-led Public-Private-Youth Partnership, aims to connect 20 million Nigerian youths to education, skills and livelihood opportunities by 2030.
Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice-President said the secretariat would fast-track implementation of the programme and strengthen collaboration among government agencies. He added that it would help align skills development with community and industry needs through a transparent and accessible process.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, noted that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, aimed at stimulating local economies across the country’s 8,809 electoral wards.
The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the initiative provides strategic direction for skills development, adding that its outcomes would be integrated into vocational training plans.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Abdelatef, described the hosting of the secretariat in the Vice-President’s office as a strong demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to youth development.
The Special Adviser to the President on Job Creation and MSMEs, Temitola Adekunle-Johnson, said the programme would help tackle youth unemployment by leveraging existing government platforms and expanding skills acquisition initiatives nationwide.