Nigeria

To enable 10 million young people in Nigeria (70 percent young women) to have access to dignified and fulfilling work by 2030 through Nigeria’s Young Africa Works strategy.

Over the next five years, we aim to expand access to affordable financial services for youth-led MSMEs in the agriculture, creative industry, and digital economy sectors. Additionally, we will drive investments in agro-processing and job-creating value chains, while improving farmers’ access to tools and establishing market linkages.

Nigeria is a young, diverse, and dynamic country that abounds with potential. A significant percentage of the more than 200 million people living in Nigeria are between the ages of 15 and 24, and 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30. However, youth unemployment poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s economic prospects. While the national unemployment rate is 33 percent, the youth unemployment rate is considerably higher, at over 42 percent. Three out of 10 Africans who enter the labour market annually are Nigerians.

We will deliver interventions and partnerships that tap into Nigeria’s entrepreneurship culture, sizeable private sector, and widespread use of technology to enable over two million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work opportunities over the next five years. Our programming is being implemented across the states of Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Adamawa, Edo, Imo, and Ondo due to high unemployment rates, gender challenges, existing and upcoming opportunities in agriculture value chains, and growth opportunities in the creative industry and digital economy sectors within these states. However, the adoption of digital tools and solutions allows the Foundation to scale many of our programming activities beyond these states.

Collaboration with educational institutions is crucial to providing young people with skills in targeted sectors. We will prioritize the growth of the creative industry, addressing barriers and promoting job creation projects. Enhancing employability is also a priority and will be achieved through resume development, apprenticeships, mentorship programs, and digital literacy curriculum adoption. We will also work toward improving the educational ecosystem and promoting renewable, decentralized energy solutions while ensuring opportunities for young women’s participation in dignified and fulfilling work.

Agriculture
Creative industry
Digital economy
Innovative thinking around the decentralized renewable energy sector