Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to unveil a new learning fund and empowerment platform aimed at boosting the potential of Nigerian children, women, and youth.
The launch is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, according to a statement released Monday by the Vice President’s Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha.
The initiative is convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations system, and other partners of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS).
It will form part of the outcomes of the ASIS 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement, a premier platform that drives progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation, financing, and partnerships.
High-level summit targets inclusive growth, Themed “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation,” the engagement will bring together more than 200 senior leaders from government, private enterprise, development institutions, civil society, and the diplomatic community.
Key highlights include the launch of several flagship, policy-backed initiatives, notably the Business Coalition for Education (BCE) and the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund, which aim to accelerate literacy and numeracy while addressing Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children challenge.
Another major launch is the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Nigeria platform.
Designed to promote women and youth economic empowerment, WYFEI Nigeria will employ compact-based delivery, co-investment frameworks, and performance accountability.
The initiative positions Nigeria as the first implementation platform of the African Union’s WYFEI programme, which will later expand to other countries.
Speaking ahead of the event, Vice President Shettima emphasised the role of collaboration in driving Nigeria’s prosperity.
“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, described ASIS 2026 as a shift from conversation to action.
According to her, the meeting will deliberately align policy, innovation, financing, and frameworks to scale solutions, delivering measurable impact 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 to be endorsed by government officials, CEOs, and development partners.
The declaration commits participants to coordinated action for unlocking Nigeria’s women and youth dividend.
Senior government officials, investors, development partners, and civil society organisations are expected to convene in Abuja to advance partnerships that support inclusive growth, foundational learning, and national development.
