The Dutch Government has lauded the efforts of SOS Children’s Villages, an NGO, for successfully graduating 863 youths from its ‘The Next Economy (TNE 11)’ Program. Sonia Fajusigbe, the Economic Policy Adviser, Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment at the Netherlands Consulate, recognized the achievement at the program’s close-out event in Lagos on Saturday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, ‘The Next Economy’ program is a collaborative initiative between SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria, the Netherland, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The program focuses on empowering Nigerian youths by helping them develop their talents, build confidence, and acquire essential skills for successful careers in employment or entrepreneurship. The second phase of TNE, which began in 2020, was conducted in Lagos, Abuja, and Jos.
Fajusigbe explained that TNE is part of the Local Employment Development Initiative in Africa (LEAD programme), which has been operational for the last eight years. Its primary goal is to create 17,000 jobs for youths in Sub-Saharan and Horn of Africa regions. The program comprises three components: entrepreneurship track, employability track, and core life skills track, focusing on essential skills necessary for job retention.
She highlighted the Dutch government’s ‘youth unheard policy’ as the basis for the program, emphasizing the significance of harnessing the potential of Nigeria’s youth, who form about 70% of the country’s population and are its most valuable asset.
Ahmed Bappare, Programme Manager of SOS Children’s Villages in Lagos, remarked on the transformative impact of education, skills acquisition, and mentorship observed during the TNE 11 program. He noted the determination and resilience of the youths in embracing personal growth, equipping themselves for the modern world’s challenges.
Mrs. Bose Ironsi, Executive Director of Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP), an NGO, commended the program’s objectives as crucial, especially given the current high number of unemployable youths in Nigeria. She appreciated the program’s emphasis on core skills, often lacking in today’s youth.
A beneficiary of the program, Ms. Temitope Ibrahim, expressed optimism about the long-term benefits of the training, emphasizing that service to humanity is infinitely rewarding.
The successful conclusion of the TNE 11 program underscores the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in empowering Nigerian youths, contributing significantly to their personal development and the nation’s socio-economic growth.