Shettima Chairs GenU Board, Targets 60% Female Beneficiaries in National Skills Drive

The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious national skills development programme aimed at connecting 20 million young Nigerians to jobs, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities by 2030. Notably, 60 percent of the beneficiaries will be women, in a bid to tackle gender disparities in employment and economic empowerment.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the plan as he assumed chairmanship of the reactivated Board of Generation Unlimited (GenU) Nigeria during its inaugural meeting in Abuja. The event, which coincided with International Youth Day 2025, marked a renewed commitment to equipping Nigerian youth with globally relevant skills.

In a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Shettima emphasized the strategic importance of investing in young Nigerians.

“With over 60 percent of our population below the age of 25, we cannot afford to squander this asset. An advantage unrealized is merely potential wasted,” he said. “We must refine it, invest in it, and channel it towards productive destinies.”

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Youth as Nigeria’s “Superpower”

Describing Nigeria’s youth as the country’s “superpower” in a rapidly ageing world, Shettima warned that the national skills landscape faces a “”trilemma”—exclusion from opportunities, disconnection from sustainable livelihoods, and inadequate infrastructure for large-scale, practical training.

“Another isolated training scheme will not deliver us from these constraints. What we need is systemic change — a new architecture built to last,” the Vice President stressed.

At the centre of this systemic overhaul is the Digital Access and Livelihoods Initiative (DALI), which will connect foundational and work-readiness training directly to guaranteed jobs or entrepreneurship opportunities. All training under DALI will align with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), ensuring Nigerian youths gain credentials that are competitive in the global market.

“We Owe Young Nigerians Jobs, Not Just Promises”

Shettima underscored the moral and strategic obligation to deliver tangible results. “We owe young Nigerians jobs. We owe them hope. We owe them the future — not just promises, but proof that their country believes in them enough to invest in their success,” he said.

The Vice President called for deep collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to create sustainable pathways for youth employment.

Minister, Presidential Adviser Outline Roadmap

Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Olawande said the programme will focus on job creation, closing the skills gap, and human capital development. He described Nigerian youths as resourceful and resilient, stressing that they only require an enabling environment to excel.

“Nigerian youths are not limited. We have the talent, creativity, and courage to thrive. What we need is a meaningful and enabling environment,” Olawande stated.

Rimamskeb Nuhu, Special Assistant to the President on Strategy and Policy (Workforce Development), explained that DALI is designed to address three major constraints: inadequate foundational skills, a disconnect between skills and livelihoods, and weak training infrastructure.

As part of the plan, the government will establish Renewed Hope Digital Hubs nationwide to deliver training, entrepreneurship support, and access to digital tools.

Building on Past Achievements

Although this new phase of GenU marks a significant scale-up, the initiative has already made substantial progress. Since its Nigerian launch in 2021, GenU 9JA has empowered over 10 million youths through various partnerships and programs.

These include:

• The FUCAP Campus Ambassadors Programme, in collaboration with Unilever, focused on entrepreneurship and leadership.
• Microsoft’s Passport to Earning, which provides free online skills training and certification.
• Green Rising, a climate action and green skills initiative for young people.
• Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), aimed at empowering adolescent girls through education and training.

Gender-Focused Approach

The decision to target 60% female participation reflects the government’s recognition of the gender gap in skills acquisition, formal employment, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Women often face greater barriers to accessing training opportunities due to cultural, economic, and social constraints.

By prioritising female beneficiaries, the initiative aims to not only promote inclusivity but also drive broader economic growth, as research shows that empowering women has a multiplier effect on communities and national development.

With the clock ticking towards the 2030 target, the reactivation of the GenU Board and the launch of DALI represent a coordinated national push to harness Nigeria’s demographic dividend. The strategy hinges on aligning training with industry needs, expanding infrastructure, leveraging private sector partnerships, and ensuring that credentials meet international standards.

If successfully implemented, the programme could help reverse trends of youth unemployment and underemployment, which have long undermined Nigeria’s economic stability. It could also position the country as a competitive player in the global skills economy, particularly in technology, green industries, and creative sectors.

As Shettima put it: “In a world where youth is power, Nigeria has the ultimate advantage. It is now up to us to turn that potential into prosperity.”