Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to launch a new learning and empowerment fund aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigerian children, women, and youths.
The initiative will be unveiled on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. It is being convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System, and other Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) partners.
The programme forms part of the outcomes of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement. ASIS is a leading platform focused on accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation, financing, and strategic partnerships.
According to a statement signed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, the high-level engagement is themed “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation.” It will convene more than 200 senior leaders from government, the private sector, development institutions, civil society, and the diplomatic community.
Key highlights of the event include the launch of policy-backed initiatives such as the Business Coalition for Education (BCE) and the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund. These initiatives are designed to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy while addressing Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children crisis.
Also scheduled for launch is the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Nigeria platform. The initiative is Nigeria’s flagship framework for advancing women and youth economic empowerment through compact-based delivery, co-investment structures, and performance accountability.
With this launch, Nigeria will become the first implementation platform for the African Union’s WYFEI programme, which is expected to be rolled out in other countries subsequently.
Speaking ahead of the engagement, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s long-term prosperity depends on sustained and effective mobilisation of funding, expertise, and partnerships at both local and international levels.
“Nigeria’s future prosperity depends on how effectively we mobilise the private sector, development partners, and public institutions around shared national priorities,” he said. “This engagement represents a critical step toward delivery-driven partnerships that unlock the potential of women and youth, strengthen human capital, and accelerate inclusive growth.”
The event will also feature the adoption of the WYFEI Nigeria Declaration, a national statement of commitment to be endorsed by government officials, chief executives, and development partners, pledging coordinated action to unlock Nigeria’s women and youth dividend.
