By Bright Okuta
As a typical Nigerian, I am skeptical of government programmes and I have often canvassed for more private participation in some of the policies and programmes of government because of the shoddy handling from MDAs.
This government has always talked about getting out-of-school children back in school and though I think they have tried, it appears not to be working. I remember the one-meal-a-day initiative led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and I also recall President Muhammadu Buhari ordering governors to ensure that kids who should be in school, should stay in school.
So when the new initiative which has UNICEF and private sector involved was announced, my hope rekindled. We know that North Nigeria is plagued by high level of illiteracy and something must be done quickly to redeem the situation.
The Almajiri school initiative by former President Goodluck Jonathan didn’t quite work but I hope the GenU Programme will be different. The programme is targeting 20 million Nigerians between the ages of 10 to 24 between now and 2030.
GenU Programme will be implemented in conjuction with indigenous private sector partners like Airtel, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Jobberman Nigeria, etc.
One of the most important objectives of this programme is to positively impact the country’s future job growth enabling programmes. The Federal Government is partnering with the United Nation International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) to achieve this programme.
According to the Vice President, the GenU Programme will have three key components. These components are: Digital Skills Development, the Workforce Readiness Programme and Youth Engagement. Youth Employment and empowerment of female entrepreneurs is a major aspect of GenU Programme.
The GenU will be implemented in 12 states, across the 6 geo-political zones in the Nigeria. In the North-west, Kano and Kaduna States; South-west, Lagos and Ogun States; North-east, Borno and Bauchi States; South-east, Ebonyi and Enugu States; North-central, Niger and Benue States and from the South-south, Rivers and Cross River States.
Let us hope that this programme can close the unemployment gap in Nigeria and improve the education sector.
