16,000 young people upskilled by Alliance for Youth Nigeria

 16,000 young people upskilled by Alliance for Youth Nigeria  

Oluwatoyin Mathnuel

INSIGHT GLOBAL NEWS 

Mustapha Fasasi, a 34year old indigene of Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, is excited about his recently 

acquired skill of solar panel installation for homes and small businesses. With prior interest in solar 

and renewable energy, he signed up for the vocational skills training hosted by the Alliance 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 I have been equipped with the handson skills and knowledge required to immediately commence solar panel installations and start earning 

income to support myself and my family. I look forward to further personal development till I become 

an expert in 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.

Despite young people being a tremendous resource for sustainable development, Nigeria’s youth 

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, including entrepreneurship education, in 

reversing this trend.

The Alliance for Youth Nigeria is addressing this need, with the recent conclusion of a vocational skills 

training program, delivered in collaboration with Whitefield Foundation.

The training which enables young people acquire knowledge, skills and confidence for selfsustainability, covered four skillsets – Solar panel installation, Graphics Design and Social Media 

Management, Beauty Care (make-up, aromatherapy and massage) and Web Development and Digital 

Marketing. The selected skill sets were identified as quick-to-market and high-impact economic areas

with immediate opportunities for earning a decent income and improving livelihood.

Launched in August 2021, the Alliance is a business-driven movement of organizations passionate 

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 include 

Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Big Bottling Company, the United Nations Global Compact 

Network Nigeria and U-Connect 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 individual projects 

to give young Nigerians meaningful work experience, internships, readiness-for-work training, and 

mentoring opportunities and are committed to contributing towards the United Nations Sustainable 

Development Goal 8 - to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and 

productive employment, and decent work for all by 2030 and Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals.

Over the last two years, the Alliance has empowered over 16,000 young people with employability 

and entrepreneurial trainings, internship and mentoring opportunities equipping them for the world of 

work and business.

In commemoration of the 2023 International Youth Day and second-year anniversary of the Alliance, 

high-flyers of the vocational skills training in Ibadan and Kano, were gifted start-up kits to enable the 

speedy commencement of their businesses. High-flyers from the graphics design and digital  

marketing trainings were 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 gainful employment

opportunities or becoming entrepreneurs, unleashing their 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 people are central in building the nation we all desire. At 

Nestlé, we believe that communities 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 jobs or create their own businesses. I am delighted that the trainees 

have acquired capacities and capabilities to make a difference, enhance opportunities for selfemployment and economic productivity. To the exceptional trainees being provided with start-up kits 

today, I urge you to positively use these skills to make a living and serve your communities”.

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 The International Youth Day celebrated annually on 12 August, is an opportunity for governments, 

internationally and nationally, and other stakeholders to draw attention to youth issues worldwide, 

particularly as related to health, education and employment while celebrating the potential of youth as 

partners in today’s global society.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”.