Over 200 fresh graduates across Nigeria have received employability skills training
facilitated by the Alliance for Youth Nigeria. The training comprised Building Winning
Resumes, Career Positioning, Personal Brand Marketing, Personal Effectiveness, Time
Management, and Starting the Career Journey among others.
In addition, the best performers will benefit from internship and mentoring opportunities
in the six companies who form part of the Alliance. At the end of the training, some
participants of the training also had the unique opportunity of partaking in job interviews
and placements, progressing on their career journeys.
Launched in August 2021, the Alliance is a business-driven movement of organizations
passionate about working together to help young people around the country get the
necessary skills to thrive in the world of work. Members of the Alliance for Youth Nigeria
include Nestlé Nigeria, Jobberman Nigeria, Sterling One Foundation, Big Bottling
Company, the United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria and U-Connect HR
Limited, with Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and Activate Success International as
partner organizations.
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 in line with 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.
The employability skills training is one of the projects of the Alliance designed to meet the
target of reaching more than 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.
Speaking at the opening session of the training, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate
Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria PLC said, “I am delighted
that yet again, the Alliance for Youth Nigeria is investing in young Nigerians, equipping
them with the right skills and information to thrive and succeed in the world of work. At
Nestlé, we believe that society cannot thrive if we fail to offer a future for the young
generations. The Alliance will continue to work together with other stakeholders in line
with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 in fulfilling the huge target we
have committed to and I encourage young people around the country to take advantage
of the available opportunities”.
Also speaking at the training, Mrs. Omomene Odike, CEO U-Connect Human Resources
Limited, congratulated the youth for their interest and dedication to achieving their career
and business goals demonstrated by their participation in the training. She further
highlighted the value adding opportunity of job interviews and placements provided by
her organization for participants of the training, urging them to take maximum advantage
of the offer.
According to Innih Ikhide, Youth Engagement and Learning Manager Jobberman Nigeria,
“Jobberman is dedicated to creating increased pathways for young people to access
dignified livelihoods for a better Nigeria”.
For Naomi Nwokolo, Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria,
“The active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to
achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies by year 2030, and to averting the
worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of
unemployment. The beneficiaries of the training have shown a willingness to improve
their skills and attain professional development and are now more equipped for
successful participation in job recruitment processes”.
On behalf of other participants, Adasa Okandiji, commended the member companies for
the excellent upskilling platform provided to equip and better position young Nigerians
for a productive career, now and in the future. She expressed her readiness and that of
other participants, to fully utilize the value adding information obtained in creating their
desired future. She also called on youth across the country to be deliberate about seeking
out and taking advantage of existing opportunities, particularly that provided by the Alliance.
