Oando Foundation, an independent charity established to support the Nigerian government in achieving its Universal Basic Education goal, has officially launched the Green Youth Upskilling Program (GYUP) pilot, a workforce development initiative for young Nigerians in the renewable energy and waste management sectors. 

The Green Youth Upskilling Program is designed to equip young Nigerians with technical and entrepreneurial skills through targeted training in renewable energy, waste management, and green enterprise development over a 9-month period, addressing critical workforce gaps in Nigeria’s growing circular economy and promoting youth participation in sustainable development. 

The official launch also marks the formal introduction of the project implementing partner, Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC), and technical training providers supporting the program. 

Beyond training, GYUP also aims to foster a new wave of green entrepreneurs by equipping participants with the tools to establish and manage small-scale businesses that contribute to job creation and environmental sustainability. 

By leveraging NCIC’s partner network and hub infrastructure, the program is structured to be both scalable and replicable, creating a ripple effect as participants apply their knowledge, employ others, and share learnings within their communities. 

This sustainable model supports broader national goals around economic resilience and climate action. 

Tonia Uduimoh, Head of Oando Foundation, emphasised the organization’s long-standing commitment to education and sustainable development, noting that the GYUP represents a strategic response to youth unemployment and the urgent need for climate-responsive skills. 

She said: “The Green Youth Upskilling Programme was developed in response to two pressing needs – empowering our youth and driving climate action. With 12.5% of Nigerian youth not in education, employment, or training, and the potential for over 2 million green jobs by 2030, this programme bridges that opportunity gap.