The World Bank reports that Africa has the youngest population in the world with 60% of the
continent’s population below age 25. Nigeria with a total population of about 220million boast of
a vast and vibrant youth population where 70% are below age 30. However, the evident gap in
practical/hands-on skills in Nigeria is enormous coupled with the country’s high unemployment
rate estimated at 53.4% (NBS 2022).
The United Nations (UN) reports that the global gender gap in labour force participation has
hovered at 30% since 1990, with men’s participation at around 80% and women’s at 50%.
Labour force participation rates for women aged 25 -54 in 2022 was 61.4% compared to 90.6%
for men.
The UN further posits that promoting women’s economic justice and rights in the economy and
closing gender gaps in the world of work are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Women’s economic
empowerment increases economic diversification and income equality for shared prosperity. It is therefore estimated that closing the gender gap could give the global economy a USD 7 trillion boost.
There is therefore an urgent need to close the existing skills gap as the United Nations has
predicted that the number of youths in Africa would have increased by 42% by year 2030.

At Wise Network Foundation, we are providing solutions to build the capacity of youth and
women through our Community Clusters through training, programs, and serving as the catalyst for progressive partnerships for individual and community development.