By Kingsley Adegboye

The Standard Chartered Foundation (the Foundation) and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (UNICEF GenU), have today announced a partnership to help secure 1,500 decent jobs for young women in Nigeria.

Being implemented in Nigeria and Kenya, the three-year partnership will focus exclusively on women aged 18-24 from under-served backgrounds and will support UNICEF GenU’s dynamic and expanding ecosystem of global and local partners, which is a public-private approach that has already made significant strides in skills training for young people.

The partnership builds on this successful work by selecting participants from the existing pool of talent that have come through UNICEF GenU’s skills training initiatives, prioritising support to help young women secure decent work.

UNICEF in Nigeria and Kenya will work closely with local job placement experts to connect young women with employment opportunities in the private sector. Additionally, UNICEF will support collaborations with local government initiatives to explore pathways to jobs which are based on local needs.

Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, Ayodeji Adelagun, Acting CEO, Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited, said “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.”

Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, said, “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.”