The Standard Chartered Foundation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited have announced a partnership aimed at securing 1,500 decent jobs for young women in Nigeria.
The three-year partnership, which is being implemented in Nigeria and Kenya, will focus exclusively on women aged 18 to 24 from underserved backgrounds, according to a statement on Thursday.
It is designed to support UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s expanding ecosystem of global and local partners, which operates through a public-private approach that has already recorded progress in skills training for young people.
Under the initiative, participants will be selected from the existing pool of young women who have completed UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s skills training programmes. The partnership will prioritise support that enables the beneficiaries to transition from training into decent and sustainable employment opportunities.
UNICEF in Nigeria and Kenya will work closely with local job placement experts to connect young women with employment opportunities in the private sector.
The programme will also support collaborations with local government initiatives to explore job pathways that are aligned with local needs.
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited, Ayodeji Adelagun, said the collaboration reflected the institution’s commitment to creating economic opportunities for young people through employment-driven initiatives.
“This collaboration underscores our steadfast strategic dedication to actualizing economic opportunities for young people through concrete employment initiatives. By integrating UNICEF’s comprehensive skilling ecosystem with our employability goals centered on work readiness and vocational training, we are establishing a sustainable empowerment framework that bridges talent development and actual job placement.
“Through the creation of dignified work opportunities, we contribute to fortifying local economies, exemplify private sector involvement in national development, and promote sustainable, inclusive growth,” Adelagun said.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the initiative would help unlock opportunities for young women who already possess the skills and motivation to succeed.
“Young women in Nigeria have the skills and the drive, what they need are real opportunities. When they are connected to decent jobs, they not only transform their own lives but also strengthen families and power communities. Unlocking their potential is how we move Nigeria forward, and this partnership makes that future possible,” Saeed said.
The partnership is expected to contribute to improved employment outcomes for young women while strengthening private sector participation in inclusive economic development in Nigeria and Kenya.
