csrreporters 
Vice President Kashim Shettima will on Wednesday launch a Learning Fund and Empowerment Platform aimed at unlocking the economic potential of Nigerian children, women and youths, with a strong focus on financial inclusion, skills development and enterprise growth.
The launch, scheduled to take place at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, is part of the outcomes of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High Level Policy Engagement. The initiative is convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System and other ASIS partners.
At the event, the Vice President will also unveil the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Platform, Nigeria’s flagship framework for advancing women and youth led economic empowerment.
The platform is designed to expand access to finance, skills development and market opportunities for women and youth owned micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through coordinated financing, co-investment structures and performance based accountability mechanisms.
The initiative will position Nigeria as the implementation hub for the African Union’s WYFEI programme, with plans to scale the model to other African countries following its rollout in Nigeria.
Speaking ahead of the engagement, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s long-term prosperity depends on its ability to mobilise private sector capital, development partners and public institutions around shared national priorities. He emphasised that effective collaboration is essential to strengthening human capital and driving inclusive economic growth.
“This engagement marks a critical step toward delivery driven partnerships that unlock the full potential of our women and youth, strengthen human capital and accelerate inclusive growth,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, described the ASIS 2026 High Level Policy Engagement as a shift from dialogue to execution, noting that the initiative is focused on translating policy commitments into measurable national impact.
According to her, the platform will align policy, innovation and financing frameworks to deliver scalable solutions capable of driving sustainable economic outcomes for millions of Nigerians, while positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s social impact and empowerment agenda.