Standard Chartered, UNICEF Partner to Advance Women’s Employment and Economic Development in Nigeria
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Standard Chartered Foundation has entered a three-year strategic partnership with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) to advance inclusive economic development by facilitating sustainable employment for 1,500 young women in Nigeria.
The initiative, launched in Lagos on Thursday, is designed to address a persistent gap in Nigeria’s workforce ecosystem bridging vocational skills acquisition and access to decent employment. It targets underserved women aged 18 to 24, supporting their transition from training into formal, income-generating roles.
Operating across Nigeria and Kenya, the programme adopts a “final-mile” approach, prioritising job placement rather than standalone training. Beneficiaries will be selected from young women who have already completed GenU’s technical and vocational skills programmes, ensuring readiness for immediate workforce integration.
To promote long-term economic impact, UNICEF will collaborate with private sector employers, job placement specialists, and relevant government institutions to identify sustainable employment opportunities aligned with labour market demand. The focus is on roles that offer dignity, stability, and growth potential within the formal economy.
Speaking at the launch, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Nigeria Limited, Ayodeji Adelagun, said the initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to strengthening employability and supporting national development.
“We are building a sustainable empowerment framework that connects skilled talent to real job opportunities. By enabling dignified work, the private sector plays a vital role in strengthening local economies and driving inclusive growth,” Adelagun said.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Wafaa Saeed, noted that while many young women possess the skills and ambition to succeed, limited access to employment networks remains a key barrier.
“When young women are connected to decent jobs, they transform their own lives while uplifting families and communities. Unlocking this potential is essential to Nigeria’s development,” Saeed said.
By combining Standard Chartered’s focus on work readiness with UNICEF’s extensive youth skilling infrastructure, the partnership aims to create a scalable model for public-private collaboration in addressing youth unemployment and promoting gender-inclusive economic growth across Africa.