Alliance for Youth Nigeria empowers youth for long-term development

According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, youth employment and economic empowerment are essential components of a strong foundation in any society.

It says that while having decent work is crucial for young people and their future, it also has a domino effect on local communities, countries and the world as a whole.

While there is no universally agreed definition of the youth age group, the UN says for statistical purposes, however, "without prejudice to any other definitions made by Member States – defines 'youth' as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years."

As nations work toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at ending poverty in all its forms, it has been identified that the active engagement of youths in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies by the target date.

This will help in averting the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict and migration.

The call for youth empowerment is intensified considering the global economic challenges and the ravaging economic downturn biting hard on developing countries, especially African countries where Nigeria belongs.

In Nigeria, youth empowerment is hinged on the fact that more than half of the Nigerian population is made up of youths, with about 70 per cent of the population poor and more than 29.5 per cent unemployed.

Also, Nigeria is regarded as a youthful population with an average age of about 18 years, according to United Nations 2020 population projections.

This may not be totally a minus if harnessed properly, as a youthful population can have positive impact on a nation's economy and where it is neglected, can have negative effect on all sectors of the economy.

Needless to say, Nigeria's youthful population portends great economic potential, hence the clamours for public and private sectors' interest in empowering the youth to achieve demographic dividends from the youth population for sustainable development.

For instance, Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo, emphasises the need to support the growing population of Nigerian youths in order to ensure that they do not become a liability in the future.

Osinbajo, while formally declaring open a forum in 2018, pointed out that taking into consideration the statistics that Nigeria was the most populous nation in Africa, with an estimated population of over 198 million, expected to double by 2050, it was important for the country to grow its economy to avoid a 'population time bomb.'

He said the Federal Government recognised the importance of investing in the growing economy and had, therefore, engaged many youths and graduates in its social intervention and empowerment scheme.

Lending support to building strong economic foundations for youths in Nigeria for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the Alliance for Youth Nigeria programme, aims to help 250,000 young Nigerians with the necessary skills to thrive in the world of work or create their own enterprise.

Launched in August 2021, the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, has members including Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, The Big Bottling Company Ltd., the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, UConnect HR Ltd., and Sterling One Foundation.

Partners include the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, signed on recently, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Activate Success International.

The member and partner organisations of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria, invest in joint and individual projects to give young Nigerians readiness-for-work training, entrepreneurship training, meaningful work experience, internships and mentoring opportunities.

As such, they contribute toward 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.

Mr Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, says, "youths are the future of our world and Nestlé is determined and committed to working with stakeholders and likeminded organisations to help young people develop their skills so they can find jobs or create their own businesses."

Commenting on behalf of the Alliance at a partnership sign up with the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Lawal says: "We are delighted to have the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on board as a Partner of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria.

"At the inauguration of the Alliance in August 2021, we set for ourselves, the huge objective of reaching 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills within three years.

"We remain committed to working together to address the challenges of youth unemployment in the country and as we continue to expand partnerships and collaborations, we are assured that we are on the right track to the actualisation of our objectives."

Mr Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, in his remarks says the onboarding of the ministry as a partner of the Alliance is significant and timely as government alone cannot address the huge challenge of youth unemployment.

"I commend the Alliance for choosing a different and unique path, making investments in young Nigerians and giving them opportunities to create wealth.

"It is imperative that Nigerian youths equip themselves with the necessary skills to give them an added advantage and enable them to become better positioned for decent work," said Dare.

Commenting on the initiative, Naomi Nwokolo, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Nigeria, says: "Our one-year anniversary is proof that advancing decent work for youths requires unprecedented levels of collaboration between key partners.

"The Alliance serves as a catalyst for reducing unemployment and promoting youth independence in order to increase labour and economic productivity in Nigeria."

On why the youth should be empowered, the NPC Chairman, Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, says attention must be given to the economy and wellbeing of youths and women to achieve demographic dividend.

The Marketing Manager of The Big Bottling Company Ltd., 'Goke Olaleye, says: "Investment in young people supports economic empowerment of the nation and the world at large."

Looking at the gains of the Alliance so far, it has given employability and entrepreneurial trainings, internship and mentoring opportunities and job placements to no fewer than 11,000 young Nigerians within one year of its inauguration.

For instance, the Alliance, on the 2022 International Youth Day, announced the conclusion of a vocational skills training programme reaching no fewer than 350 young Nigerians in Lagos and Kano States.

The training, which covered four skillsets – Solar panel installation, Graphics Design (Designs, social media and web design), CCTV and Cable installation, and Beauty Care (make-up, aromatherapy and massage), was delivered in collaboration with Whitefield Foundation.

The vocational skills training is one of the projects of the Alliance designed in accordance with the Alliance's objective of reaching 250,000 young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurial skills to enable them secure gainful employment or set up businesses of their own within three years.

Some of the projects delivered include Soft skills training, covering personal effectiveness and time management, effective communication, business etiquette, employability skills, emotional intelligence, for NYSC and fresh graduates in November 2021 reaching 590 persons.

On soft and employability skills training, covering critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and idea generation, developing the right mindset for the world of work, effective communication etc, in May and June, over 9,600 NYSC members in Lagos, Kano, Ogun and FCT orientation camps were reached.

Employability trainings for fresh graduates in April and June, covering career positioning, personal brand marketing, building winning resumes, developing interpersonal skills, developing an entrepreneurial mindset etc, were delivered, reaching over 610 youths.

Also, on vocational skills training, areas explored included solar panel installation, graphics design (designs, social media and web design), CCTV and Cable installation, and Beauty Care (make up, aromatherapy and massage), in Lagos and Kano States in August with over 350 youths reached.

In addition to trainings, some "high flyer" beneficiaries of the programme have been gifted start-up kits to ensure the immediate take-off of their businesses.

Items given included laptops, make-up tool kits and massage beds, complete toolboxes for installations among others.

Commending on the effort and investment of the Alliance in promoting economic opportunities for young Nigerians, the Special Assistant to Dare, Oluwakemi Areola, in a statement, said in the next 10 years, jobs would evolve from the traditional model.

"It is imperative that Nigerian youths equip and upskill themselves with the necessary skills (digital and vocational) to give them added advantage and keep them better positioned for the continuous benefit of decent work," he said.

A beneficiary, Oluwakemi Olatunfe, who participated in the training in the Beauty category, commended the Alliance for providing the unique opportunity for the training and upskilling of young Nigerians.

In summary, with over 13.9 million youths unemployed and millions in unstable employment and underemployed in Nigeria, young people need the right skills and experience to help them in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

And the Alliance for Youth Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to investment in young people for a better future.

The Alliance for Youth Nigeria is providing an environment of learning where young Nigerians acquire 21st century skills that will increase their chances of getting employed or becoming self-employed.

This is important as according to Innih Ikhide, Youth Engagement and Learning Manager, Jobberman Nigeria, the youth in every society have the potential to stimulate economic growth, social progress and national development.

In addition, the youth are the future of the nation and every investment towards their employability, engagement and empowerment is very critical for the society's good and sustainable progress, says Mr Lanre Coleman, General Manager, U-Connect Human Resources Limited.