Recently, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) joined the United Nations Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, committing to empowering 2500 Nigeria youth by 2029 through skills development and decent job opportunities. NECA partners with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), which supports this initiative with funds from private businesses. These funds will be used to enhance apprenticeship programmes, providing quality training aligned with industry needs.

The Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) aims to annually train 500 youth over the next 5 years in technical skills using member facilities and approved curriculum. Collaborating closely with industries, NECA and ITF designed tailored training programmes to address specific skill needs. Additionally, the commitment provides job placement support with the goal of connecting at least 100 trained youth per year with employment opportunities.

A joint steering committee comprising NECA and ITF representatives governs this commitment, overseeing planning, implementation, and evaluation. The initiative seeks to bridge the skills gap, fostering youth employment in the formal sector, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and economic growth.

The Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Decent Jobs for Youth was launched in 2016 as a joint effort of the United Nations system to address the youth employment challenge, which is a central element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is a global multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together governments, social partners, the private sector, youth, and civil society organizations, among others.

Strategic alliances and coordinated work between these actors allow them to share knowledge, benefit from resources and take relevant measures at the national and regional level to support young people in their transition to productive employment and decent work.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, Director-General, NECA | dg@neca.org.ng              

Ms. Jennifer Yelwa, Research and Economic Analyst, NECA | jennifer@neca.org.ng

Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, ILO |  decentjobsforyouth@ilo.org