UNESCO REF, UAPP unveil partnership to empower 2m Nigerian youths by 2030
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Read & Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) has announced an expanded collaboration with the United Kingdom-based University Application Portal (UAPP) to strengthen their strategic partnership aimed at empowering two million Nigerian youths by 2030. In a joint statement issued on Friday in Abuja, both organizations emphasized that the […]
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Read & Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) has announced an expanded collaboration with the United Kingdom-based University Application Portal (UAPP) to strengthen their strategic partnership aimed at empowering two million Nigerian youths by 2030.
In a joint statement issued on Friday in Abuja, both organizations emphasized that the initiative aligns with the principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It specifically advances Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning, as well as SDG 8, which targets sustained, inclusive economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all.
Chief Executive Officer of UAPP, Mr. Md Shamim, described the partnership with UNESCO REF as a significant milestone in driving progress on the 2030 Agenda.
“By 2030, we will have empowered over two million Nigerian youths with the skills, tools, and confidence to participate fully in the digital economy.
“As a global student recruitment and education access platform, UAPP is committed to opening doors for young people around the world. Together with UNESCO REF, we are delighted to be building inclusive routes to education and decent work, ensuring that no young person is left behind”.
Shamim further explained that advancing the 2030 Agenda is crucial for Nigeria, noting that the country hosts one of the world’s largest youth populations, with more than 70 percent under the age of 30. He said this demographic reality presents both enormous challenges and unprecedented opportunities.
UAPP, a global education technology provider, currently partners with more than 200 universities worldwide. It has supported over 9,000 successful student placements and continues to widen access to education across continents.
The partnership aims to tap into Nigeria’s youth potential by expanding equitable access to quality education through digital platforms, while also promoting lifelong learning, entrepreneurship and career development. It also seeks to strengthen pathways to decent work and sustainable livelihoods in a fast-growing digital and knowledge-based economy.
According to the statement, programme components include digital inclusion, offering free access to UAPP’s advanced CRM and learning systems to enable large-scale participation in education and career counselling.
UNESCO REF President, Prince Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, underscored the importance of the collaboration, noting that it exemplifies the transformative role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He stated that the initiative is not only transformative for Nigerian youths but also aligns with national and continental aspirations for inclusive prosperity and resilience.
“By combining global technology with local impact, we are creating a scalable model for inclusive education, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment. This initiative will contribute directly to SDG 4 and SDG 8, while reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in advancing the 2030 Agenda,” he stated.
As part of the framework of the partnership, capacity-building programmes will support entrepreneurship through training modules and mentorship for developing education-focused enterprises and digital businesses. Global knowledge exchange will also be fostered to strengthen cross-border learning and innovation.
“Furthermore, the strengthening of this partnership will be anchored under the UNESCO REF New Partnership Development for Education and Youths (NEPAD_EY) framework, which provides the institutional architecture for coherence and sustainability.”