(L – R) Ahmed Alaga, Program Manager, Jobberman Nigeria; Lanre Coleman, General Manager, U-Connect HR Limited; Tumi Onamade, Senior Manager, Participant Engagement & Programs, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria; Shakiru Lawal, Country HR Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC and ‘Goke Olaleye, Marketing Manager, Big Bottling Company Limited.

As the world marks the International Youth Day, the Alliance for Youth Nigeria
has announced the conclusion of a vocational skills training program reaching
over 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), were 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 3 years. This objective,
which was announced during the launch of the Alliance, is in line with their
commitment to work together to address the challenges of youth unemployment
in the country with the associated social and economic impact.
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, U-Connect HR Limited and Sterling One Foundation
with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Lagos State
Employment Trust
Since inception, the Alliance has reached over 11,000 young Nigerians with
employability and entrepreneurial trainings, internship and mentoring
opportunities and job placements.
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
• 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 2022
reaching over 9,600 NYSC members in Lagos, Kano, Ogun and FCT
orientation camps
• Employability trainings for fresh graduates in April and June 2022,
covering career positioning, personal brand marketing, building winning
resumes, developing interpersonal skills, developing an entrepreneurial
mindset etc, and reaching over 610
• Vocational skills training, covering 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 2022 reaching over 350
The member and partner organizations have 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.
Celebrating the International Youth Day and first-year anniversary of the
Alliance, high-flyers of the vocational skills training were gifted start-up kits to
ensure the immediate take-off of their businesses. High-flyers from the graphics
design training were provided laptops, those from the Beauty, massage .