By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with Project Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN), has officially launched SET4LYF (School-To-Work Educational Transitions for Long-Term Youth Fulfillment), a nationwide initiative aimed at equipping 180,000 adolescents with a focus on vulnerable girls in underserved communities with the skills necessary to thrive in the modern world.
The program, unveiled Tuesday and formally launched on Thursday in Abuja, is designed to run over the next four years across 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It focuses on fostering entrepreneurial, digital, leadership, and life skills in secondary school students, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunity.
At the launch event, Olaolu Akogun, Country Director of SET4LYF, emphasized the program’s goal of creating a globally competitive generation of young Nigerians. “SET4LYF is designed to equip our adolescents with the skills that matter most in today’s world and tomorrow’s economy,” he said. “We are preparing them not just to participate in society, but to lead it.”
A key component of the initiative is gender inclusion, with a 70:30 participation ratio in favor of girls. According to Akogun, the program will be delivered in schools, camps, homes, and communities using content centered on social learning and action.
Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, described SET4LYF as “a movement for igniting the future,” emphasizing its role in developing leadership and resilience among Nigerian girls.
“With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, we are sitting on a demographic goldmine,” she said. “Nigerian youth are not just promising, they are delivering from international academic tests to global coding and robotics competitions.”
Dr. Keshinro also delivered a cautionary message to students, urging them to resist negative influences, particularly drug use, criminal behaviour, and unsafe social media exposure. She highlighted the importance of programs like SET4LYF in giving young people a safe and empowering space to grow.
In her remarks, Progress Umoh, Speaker of the National Children’s Parliament, called on adolescent girls to speak out and take ownership of their futures. She praised the Ministry and Junior Achievement Nigeria for their efforts in creating a generation that is “empowered, equipped, and unstoppable.”
One of the participants, Anyeboneme Jennifer, a student at Cyprus International School, shared her excitement. “Most times it seems that the girl child does not have many privileges. So it’s good to have a platform for your voice to be advocated for,” she said. “This program will give me more knowledge and boost my confidence.”
The SET4LYF initiative is being implemented in partnership with Junior Achievement Africa and seeks to ensure that every Nigerian adolescent, regardless of background, gains the tools to lead and influence their communities positively.
“This is more than a program it’s a pledge,” Akogun said. “A girl empowered is a nation established.”
