The YouthMobile Initiative is an innovation by UNESCO launched in 2014 at the global level, which aims at engaging a critical mass of young people to acquire basic technical skills and confidence to develop, promote, and sell locally relevant mobile applications (APPs) that address local issues for sustainable development.
Within the framework of this initiative, UNESCO Abuja Office is collaborating with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to implement a project tagged UNESCO-FCTA YouthMobile Project. This project began its first phase in June 2017, graduating over 400 beneficiaries in March 2018.
Overwhelmed by the project’s achievements during the first phase, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory is further committed to the project by supporting UNESCO to train additional 600 youths in the second phase, of which 360 youths were empowered in December 2018. The beneficiaries were equally trained on building resilience in business and entrepreneurship, being introduced to seasoned entrepreneurs and business start-ups.
Reiterating UNESCO’s commitment towards peace-building, UNESCO Abuja Office would continue to meaningfully engage as well as collaborate with young women and men in promoting peace and preventing violent extremism. Youth stands at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UNESCO is working across the board to support them not only as beneficiaries but also as leaders who play vital roles at local, national, and global levels. This starts with creating an enabling environment to empower young men and women as change makers in their communities.
In furtherance to engaging the youth in ICTs through the YouthMobile Initiative in the region, UNESCO Abuja Office has begun discussion with some State Governments of Nigeria and the Sierra-Leone Government on areas of collaboration. Key partners contributing to this project in Nigeria include Samsung Nigeria and Microsoft Nigeria.
Press Review
- UNESCO: Empowering Nigerian Youths On MobileApp Development, Leadership (December 2018)
- ANALYSIS: How ICT can empower Nigerian youths to become self-reliant, Daily Nigerian (December 2018)
- UNESCO/FCTA youthmobile training will fill ICT skill gap for youths – Expert, Sundiata Post (September 2017)