• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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World Bank partners UNICEF to promote youth empowerment in Nigeria

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Nigerian youths are set to benefit from a World Bank and United Nations International Children Education Fund, UNICEF skills and training program bfor young people in developing countries aimed at boosting their employment prospects.

This was contained in a statement by kurtis Cooper, UNICEF media representative in Nigeria.

The partnership will align $1 billion in World Bank investments with Generation Unlimited, a new global initiative, currently hosted by UNICEF to help prepare the world’s 1.8 billion young people for the transition to work and engaged citizenship, by connecting secondary-age education and training for employment and entrepreneurship.

Kristalina Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer, World Bank stressed that as millions of young people enter the workforce in developing countries, it matters to them and to the whole world that they can find decent jobs, adding that “young people are almost three times as likely as adults to be unemployed”

“Without decent jobs and the dignity of work, millions of them will be shut out of global progress toward growth, prosperity and stability.“With the right skills and the right opportunities, young people can drive global growth and prosperity, but we cannot take this for granted. We must work together to invest in education, training, jobs and entrepreneurship so they can reach their potential.”

Georgieva further explained that the investments are also an important component of the World Bank Group’s Human Capital Project, which is mobilizing countries to deliver more effective investments in people (especially young people) as a key pathway to jobs in today’s changing world of work.

She stressed that at the core of the partnership, is connecting secondary-age education and training to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, so that young people can succeed in a changing world.

“The World Bank’s financial commitment is expected to focus on accelerating curriculum changes in formal education so that skills and knowledge align with workplace demands; Improving access to skills programs outside of formal education, including in crisis situations and areas prone to humanitarian emergencies; stepping up efforts to match job-seekers with employment and entrepreneurship opportunities; and equipping young people with the flexibility and problem-solving skills they will need to succeed as engaged citizens in the new world of work”.

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, in a statement corroborating the project, said that there in need for increased investment in young people by transforming education systems and scaling up skills training adding that there is need to open up opportunities to the futures of millions of young people.

“Through this World Bank and UNICEF collaboration, Generation Unlimited can help support this transformation and create a skilled cohort of young people better prepared to form flourishing economies and peaceful and prosperous societies”, she said.

“Launched just over six months ago, Generation Unlimited aims to help prepare the world’s 1.8 billion young people for the transition to work and engaged citizenship, by connecting secondary-age education and training to employment and entrepreneurship. This is the largest cohort of young people in history, but many of them are the victims of a global education and training crisis so they are not equipped to enter the work place”.

 

Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.