The Standard Chartered Foundation has partnered with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited to secure 1,500 decent jobs for young women in Nigeria, as part of a three-year employment initiative also being implemented in Kenya.
According to a statement released on Thursday, the partnership will focus exclusively on women aged 18 to 24 from underserved backgrounds, with the aim of helping them transition from skills training into sustainable employment opportunities.
The initiative builds on UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s growing ecosystem of global and local partners, which operates through a public-private collaboration model and has already made progress in equipping young people with relevant skills.
Under the programme, beneficiaries will be selected from an existing pool of young women who have completed UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s skills training programmes. The partnership will prioritise post-training support, ensuring that participants are not only skilled but also connected to decent and meaningful jobs.
UNICEF offices in Nigeria and Kenya will work closely with local job placement experts to link the young women to employment opportunities within the private sector. The programme will also collaborate with local government initiatives to explore job pathways that respond to local labour market needs.
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited, Ayodeji Adelagun, said the partnership reflects the organisation’s commitment to creating real economic opportunities for young people.
“This collaboration underscores our steadfast strategic dedication to actualising economic opportunities for young people through concrete employment initiatives. By integrating UNICEF’s comprehensive skilling ecosystem with our employability goals centred on work readiness and vocational training, we are establishing a sustainable empowerment framework that bridges talent development and actual job placement,” Adelagun said.
He added that by creating dignified work opportunities, the initiative would help strengthen local economies, demonstrate private sector commitment to national development and promote inclusive, sustainable growth.
Also speaking, the UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the partnership would unlock opportunities for young women who already have 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 improve employment outcomes for young women while deepening private sector participation in inclusive economic development across Nigeria and Kenya.
