In a significant stride towards fostering entrepreneurship and combatting unemployment, the Alliance for Youth Nigeria has successfully trained 500 Nigerian youths, arming them with the essential skills to initiate and manage their own businesses. This training initiative, a part of the organization’s celebrations for its second-year anniversary and this year’s International Youth Day, extends its impact to complement the over 15,000 individuals who have undergone training since its inception in 2021.
Selected from diverse backgrounds, these beneficiaries hail from Kano in the North West and Ibadan in the South West of Nigeria, embodying the Alliance’s commitment to fostering economic growth across regions. As the International Youth Day theme for this year resonates with “Green skills for youth: Towards a sustainable world,” the occasion provided a platform to spotlight the NGO’s endeavors to address the pressing issue of unemployment.
The comprehensive training program encompassed several key domains, including Solar Energy and Installation, Graphics Design, Social Media Management, Beauty Care (encompassing makeup, aromatherapy, and massage), and Web Development alongside Digital Marketing. Adding a noteworthy element of empowerment, exceptional participants were equipped with startup kits to facilitate the launch of their businesses.
Tumi Onamade, the Secretary of the Alliance and Senior Manager of Participant Engagement & Programmes at UN Global Compact Nigeria Network highlighted the mutual benefits of investing in youth development. He emphasized, “At the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, we recognize that scaling up action and investing in the youth not only creates economic opportunities but also helps businesses grow and stay sustainable.”
During the Ibadan event, Shakiru Lawal, the Vice President of the Alliance and Country HR Manager at Nestlé Nigeria PLC, delivered an address to participants. He urged the gifted youths, armed with startup kits, to channel their acquired skills towards self-improvement and making a positive impact on their communities.
Mustapha Fasasi, a 34-year-old participant in the solar panel installation training, spoke on behalf of his fellow trainees, expressing gratitude for the Alliance’s investment in their upskilling journey. He remarked, “Thanks to the facilitators, the training is of huge benefit to us as it was very easy to understand and implement. We are deeply grateful to the Alliance for investing in upskilling young people and further awarding those of us who excelled at the training with start-up kits. We promise to maximally deploy the skills and tools to commence our businesses.”
Mariya Ahmad Jibrin, who participated in the graphics design training in Kano, echoed her appreciation for the Alliance’s impactful training experience. She stressed that the provided laptop, serving as a start-up kit, was an invaluable asset that has bolstered her design business.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, represented by Permanent Secretary Abubakar Ismail, reaffirmed its commitment to policies fostering youth development, particularly in employment creation and entrepreneurship. Ismail noted, “With the substantial number of youths entering the labor market annually in Nigeria and limited formal sector job opportunities, skills-based entrepreneurship remains a viable option for economic empowerment, job creation, especially in the small and medium enterprise sector, and enhancement of the general standard of living.”
