Airtel Nigeria stresses dedication to youth empowerment at the unveiling of GenU 9ja Council
UNICEF's GenU 9ja Initiative and Airtel Nigeria Partner to Empower Nigerian Youth
In a bid to bridge the skills gap and create pathways for Nigerian youth to successfully move from education into meaningful employment and entrepreneurship, UNICEF's GenU 9ja initiative and Airtel Nigeria have joined forces.
Launched in 2021, GenU 9ja is a national public-private, youth-focused partnership platform. It aims to support 20 million Nigerian youths by 2030 through large-scale collaboration with partners across sectors. The initiative is designed to help young Nigerians transition from learning to earning.
Airtel Nigeria, a dedicated member of the GenU 9ja Board, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment through active participation in the platform. The telecommunications giant leverages its network and resources to support the initiative’s goal of youth-driven transformation and economic engagement.
Key features of GenU 9ja include the Youth Agency Marketplace, a digital platform officially recognized as Nigeria’s national youth opportunities aggregator. This one-stop hub for opportunities in skills, innovation, volunteering, and economic activities serves as a vital resource for young Nigerians.
Moreover, GenU 9ja emphasizes youth as drivers of change, not just beneficiaries. This approach encourages youth-led transformation at scale. The initiative also includes education and skills training programs such as the Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) at Yaba College of Technology, which receives support from UNICEF and GenU to train one million Nigerian girls, nurturing them as innovators and entrepreneurs.
Airtel Nigeria's efforts in GenU 9ja are focused on providing skills and opportunities for Nigerian youths. Through its partnerships, Airtel offers digital inclusion for young people, connecting over 1,200 schools and 800,000 learners to free digital learning platforms through its partnership with UNICEF in the Reimagine Education programme. In 2025, Airtel plans to connect an additional 300 schools.
The synergistic partnership between UNICEF’s GenU 9ja and Airtel Nigeria was officially launched on August 13, 2025, at the State House in Abuja. The event was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON, and was attended by UNICEF, national leaders, and private sector partners, including Airtel Nigeria.
With GenU 9ja, Nigerian youths can expect connectivity, digital learning, soft skills, job-related skills, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities. Airtel Nigeria's participation in GenU 9ja is part of its ongoing commitment to youth development and employment in Nigeria.
- Through GenU 9ja, a collaboration between UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria, Nigerian youths can expect to receive a comprehensive education, including digital learning, soft skills training, job-related skills, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
- With the GenU 9ja initiative's emphasis on education and self-development, the goal is to nurture millions of Nigerian youths towards personal growth and success in employment and entrepreneurship, tying learning directly to earning.
