According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), reducing the global youth unemployment rate by half could add at least $2.2 trillion to the world economy. The greatest impact would be in Sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated 12 to 19% gain in gross domestic product (GDP).
To contribute to this by reducing unemployment amongst youth in Nigeria, USADF and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) signed a five-year strategic partnership agreement in May 2019 to invest up to $10 million ($5 million per party over five years) in youth training and employment in Lagos State, Nigeria. The USADF-LSETF Employability Program is designed to increase the market competitiveness of 3,000 youth yearly.
During 2020, USADF and LSETF issued two requests for applications (RFA) targeting vocational training and employment centers (VTCs), with the first focused on a wide range of sectors, including fashion/beauty, interior design, cybersecurity, and construction. The second RFA was specific to the health sector so youth could gain skills needed to respond to challenges posed by COVID-19.
Following the first RFA, USADF issued grants collectively valued at more than $800,000 to 11 VTCs to train unemployed youth and empower them to find jobs and improve their livelihoods. Under the 2nd RFA, USADF awarded an additional approximate $515,000 to enterprises to deliver training and job placement services.
One of these grantees, AGDC Employability & Enterprise Limited (AGDC), is a social enterprise with a goal of "achieving a national rebirth and social change by investing in and improving the employable and entrepreneurial capacity of Nigeria's youth." To address the challenges of the 13.2 million children not attending school in Nigeria, adequate training of teachers is essential, especially with an acute shortage of teachers in the country. According to some estimates, Nigeria will require 400,000 additional primary school teachers between 2012–2030.
With its USADF funding, AGDC is delivering teacher training modules in Lagos to 120 unemployed graduates on phonics teaching techniques for early childhood education. Its teacher training program is providing unemployed graduates with 21st century teaching skills, making them attractive and employable to reputable schools within Lagos. AGDC is offering training in Early Childhood Education, effective communication and listening skills, Montessori method, classroom management, emotional intelligence, professional ethics for teachers, and effective teaching skills.
Speaking at the grant signing ceremony, Yetunde Arobieke, Lagos State's Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, stated, "I'm glad about the robustness of this program, as industries and sectors to be covered under this initiative include but are not limited to technology, creative arts, agriculture value chain, transport and logistics, renewable energy, and construction. It is our hope that beyond the total number of youths who will benefit from this program, many others will be inspired to embrace self-development based on the positive impact of this initiative on their peers."
USADF President and CEO C.D. Glin added, "USADF is a U.S. government agency, but we invest in Africans and their ideas, their innovations and solutions, to the challenges that face the continent. When we are successful here, this is going to be transformational not only for Lagos State, but also for the other 35 states in Nigeria — and then the 50-plus countries on the continent — because we are all facing the same challenges around this need for employment, job creation and entrepreneurship."