- Update 869

United Nations Children’s Fund and Unilever Nigeria Plc have renewed their pledge to deepen children and youth skill development in Nigeria.

The partners disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos, where they highlighted the impact of the two-and-a-half-year-old initiative focused on employability, digital literacy and entrepreneurship skills.

The programme operates through an ecosystem anchored on UNICEF’s Youth Agency Marketplace platform, Unilever’s social media channels and campus networks across higher institutions.

Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria, Tobi Adeniyi, described the programme as a strategic partnership that integrates public sector leadership, UNICEF’s global expertise and Unilever’s sustainability-driven mission.

He said the blend of digital learning and physical campus engagement has strengthened the initiative’s outreach, noting that more than 85,000 students have participated in 30 career seminars organised across universities and polytechnics by trained Future Career Ambassadors and partner institutions.

He stated that over 900,000 young people have been reached under the Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme.

He noted that the initiative aligns with Unilever’s sustainability priority of improving livelihoods and contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals by equipping young people with practical skills and access to opportunities.

“At Unilever Nigeria, we recognise that young people are at the heart of the country’s future and economic transformation. Through our partnership with UNICEF on FUCAP, we are investing in scalable platforms that equip young Nigerians with practical, future-fit skills and expose them to real opportunities to transition confidently from learning to earning,” he said.

In Nigeria, he said the initiative receives national backing, with Vice President Kashim Shettima chairing the GenU Nigeria Board.

The Chief of UNICEF Lagos Office and Lead, Generation Unlimited Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians.

Also speaking, the Chief of the UNICEF Lagos Office and Lead of Generation Unlimited Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, said the programme, now active in 20 universities, focuses on entrepreneurship, digital capabilities, and career guidance.

She said the initiative bridges the gap between academia and industry by delivering practical knowledge directly to students and creating clearer pathways into employment, strengthening an ecosystem that enables young people to move from learning to earning.