Alliance for Youth Nigeria
16,000 young people upskilled by Alliance for Youth Nigeria
Mustapha Fasasi,a 34yearold indigene of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, is excited about his recently
acquired skill of solar pane instalationfor homes and smal businesses. With priorinterest in solar
and renewable energy, he signed up for the vocational skills training hosted by the Aliance for Youth
Nigeria, as soon as he heard about the training through a radio program.
“The training was an extremely rewarding experience for me as have been equipped with the hands
on skills and knowedge required to immediately commence solar panel installations and start earning
income to support myself and my famiy.I look forward to further personal development till I become
an expertin this sector”, he said.
Mustapha is one of over 500 young people, who are beneficiaries of the vocational skills training held
in Ibadan and Kano.
Despiteyoung people beinga tremendous resource for sustainable development, Nigeria’syouth
unemployment rate stands at 53.7%according to the National Bureau of Statistics. There is therefore
a pressing need for innovative and hands on interventions, includingentrepreneurship education,in
reversing thistrend.
The Alliance for Youth Nigeria is addressing thisneed,with the recent conclusion of a vocational skills
training program, delivered in colaboration with Whitefield Foundation.
The training which enabesyoung peopleacquire knowledge, skills andconfidence for self
sustainability, covered four skillsets –Solar panel instalation, Graphics Design and Social Media
Management, Beauty Care (makeup, aromatherapy and massage)and Web Development and Digital
Marketing. Theselectedskillsets were identifiedasquick-to-marketandhigh-impacteconomic areas
with immediate opportunities for earning a decent income and improving livelihood.
Launched in August 2021, the Aliance is a business-driven movement of organizationspassionate
about working together to help young people around the country acquire the necessary skills to thrive
in the world of work or create their own enterprise. Members of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria incude
Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Big Bottling Company, the United Nations Global Compact
Network Nigeriaand UConnect HR Limited with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports
Development, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Activate Success International as partner
organizations.
The member and partner organizations are committed to equipping young Nigerians with
employability and entrepreneurial skills to enable them secure gainful employment or set up
businesses of their own.They have also positioned themselves to invest in joint and individua projects
to give young Nigerians meaningful work experience, internships, readiness-for-work training, and
mentoring opportunities and are committed to contributing towardsthe United Nations Sustainable
Development Goa 8 -to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and
productive employment, and decent work for all by 2030and Goa 17, Partnerships for the Goas.
Over the last two years, the Alliance has empowered over 16,000young peoplewith employability
and entrepreneurial trainings, internship and mentoring opportunitiesequipping them for the word of
work and business.
In commemoration of the 2023International Youth Day and second-year anniversary of the Alliance,
high-fyers of the vocational skills training in Ibadan and Kano, were gifted start-up kits to enable the
speedy commencementof their businesses. High-flyers from the graphics design and digital
marketing trainingswere provided laptops, those from the Beauty, massage and aromatherapy
training were provided make-up tool kits and massage beds while high-flyers from the solar panel
installation trainings were awarded complete toolboxes for their vocation.
According to Ahmed Alaga, President of the Alliance and Program Manager Partnerships,Jobberman
Nigeria, “Young people are the engine for growth and development, a huge resource and great asset
for national advancement. The Alliance for Youth Nigeria is committed to supporting young Nigerians
with the skills, trainings and knowledge that will increase their chances of getting gainfu employment
opportunities or becoming entrepreneurs, unleashingtheir true potential”.
In his comments at the Ibadan event, Shakiru Lawal, Vice President of the Alliance and Country HR
Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC said, “Young peope are central in building the nationwe all desire. At
Nestlé, we believe thatcommunities cannot thrive if we fail to offer a future to them. This is why we
are committed to working with stakeholders and like-minded organizations to help young people
develop their skills so they can find jobsor create their own businesses. am deighted that the trainees
have acquiredcapacities and capabilities to make a difference, enhance opportunities for self
employment and economic productivity.To the exceptional traineesbeing providedwith start-up kits
today,I urge youtopositivelyuse these skills to make a living and serve yourcommunities”.
Tumi Onamade, Secretary of the Alliance and Senior Manager, Participant Engagement &
Programmes, UN Global Compact Nigeria Network who was at the Ibadan event said, “Today we stand
united in celebration of two impactful years of collaborative youth empowerment. At the United
Press Release –Alliance for Youth Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria, 12 August 2023
Nations Gobal Compact Network Nigeria, we recognize that scaling up action and investing in the
youth not only creates economic opportunities but also heps businessesgrow and stay sustainable,
echoing SDG 8: Decent work and Economic Growth. To the beneficiaries of the startup kits, you are
now empowered with skills and equipped with tools, embrace this opportunity to turn your dreams
into thriving realities. Your journey starts now! As we commemorate the International Youth Day, we
reaffirm our commitment to the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the
Goals. Our journey as an Alliance remains unwavering, bound by purpose and guided by the firm belief
that by investing in youth today, we build a stronger tomorrow”.
In a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development,
Abubakar Ismailsaid, “With the huge number of youth entering the labour market annually in Nigeria,
and limited job opportunities in the formal sector, skils based entrepreneurship remainsa viable
option for economic empowerment, job creationespecially in thesmal and medium enterprise sector,
and improvement of the general standard of living.Globally, entrepreneurs have advanced
development through innovations in al sectors. The Federal Ministryof Youth and Sports
Development is committed to the development of appropriate Policy Frameworks, such as the National
Youth Policy which has empoyment and entrepreneurship as strategic thrusts and the Nigerian Youth
Employment Action Pan, with priority focus onemployability, entrepreneurship, employment creation
equaity and rights. We aredelighted to be part of the Alliance for Youth Nigeriaand willcontinueto
collaborate with stakeholders to create opportunities for youth development”.
Expressing his deight on behaf of his colleagues, MustaphaFasisi said, “Thanks to the faciitators,
the trainingis of huge benefit to us as it was veryeasy to understand and implement.We are deeply
grateful to the Alliance for investing in upskilling young peope and further awarding thoseof us who
excelled at thetraining with start-up kits. Wepromise to maximally deploy the skills and tools to
commence our businesses”.
On her part,Mariya Ahmad Jibrin, who participated in the Kano training in the graphics design
category expressed her gratitude to the Aliance for the transformative training experience which has
equipped herwith the skills to create impactful designs, affirmingthat the laptop provided to her as a
start-up kitis an invaluable and treasured supportfor her business.
The Aliance for Youth Nigeria is committed to continued investment in capacity development of young
people, equipping them with the right skils and experience in a rapidly evolving word and for a better
future.
With 70% of herpopulation under 30, Nigeria has one of the largest youth populationin the world,
representing a remarkable opportunity for development and growth.
The International Youth Daycelebrated annualy on 12 August, isan opportunity for governments,
internationaly and nationaly,and otherstakeholdersto draw attention to youth issues worldwide,
particularly as reated to heath, education and employment while celebratingthe potential of youth as
partners in today’s globa society.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.
- Ayodeji Odesola, a representative of Activate Success International
- Tumi Onamade, Senior Manager, Participant Engagement & Programs, UN Global Compact Nigeria Network
- Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC
- Simbo Akinrosotu, Chief Youth Development Officer, Enterprise Development and Promotion Department, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development
- Tayo Fadipe, Project Coordinator, White Field Foundation
Picture 2: High-flyers of the vocational skills training with the start-up packs provided by the Alliance to enable them commence their businesses (Picture from the Ibadan event)
Picture 3: One of the beneficiaries from the Kano event
Best Regards,
