Vice President Shettima to Launch New Learning Fund and Empowerment Platform for Nigerian Women, Youth, and Children

By Blessing Okola, Abuja 

All is set for Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima to unveil a new learning fund and empowerment platform aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigerian children, women, and youth. The launch will take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System, and other partners under the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026. 

The program is part of ASIS 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement, a platform designed to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation, strategic financing, and partnerships.

The engagement, themed “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation,” will convene over 200 senior leaders from government, private sector, development institutions, civil society, and the diplomatic community. Key highlights include the launch of flagship, policy-backed initiatives:

Business Coalition for Education (BCE) and the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund, aimed at enhancing literacy and numeracy while addressing the nation’s out-of-school children challenge.

Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Nigeria, the country’s flagship platform to advance economic empowerment through co-investment frameworks, performance accountability, and compact-based delivery. 

Nigeria will serve as the pilot implementation platform for the African Union’s WYFEI programme, which is set to expand to other African countries.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Vice President Shettima emphasized the critical role of partnerships in driving national development.

“Nigeria’s future prosperity depends on how effectively we mobilise the private sector, development partners, and public institutions around shared national priorities. This engagement marks a critical step toward delivery-driven partnerships that unlock the full potential of our women and youth, strengthen human capital, and accelerate inclusive growth,” he said.

Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, noted that ASIS 2026 represents a shift from dialogue to action, aligning policy, innovation, financing, and frameworks to deliver tangible solutions for millions of Nigerians while positioning the country as a leader in Africa’s sustainable growth agenda.

The event will also feature the adoption of the WYFEI Nigeria Declaration, a national statement of intent endorsed by government officials, CEOs, and development partners, committing to coordinated efforts to unlock Nigeria’s women and youth potential.

Senior government officials, business leaders, investors, development partners, and civil society organizations will converge on Abuja to advance results-driven partnerships for inclusive growth, human capital development, and national progress