Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to launch a new learning and empowerment fund targeted 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, as part of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement.
The initiative is convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System, and other ASIS partners. It forms part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to accelerate inclusive growth through coordinated policy action, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
ASIS is a premier platform designed to fast-track progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by mobilising financing, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration. The 2026 high-level engagement is themed “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation.”
The event is expected to bring together over 200 senior leaders from government, private enterprise, development institutions, civil society, and the diplomatic community to advance delivery-focused solutions for national development.
Key highlights of the engagement include the launch of flagship initiatives such as the Business Coalition for Education (BCE) and the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund. These programmes are aimed at accelerating foundational literacy and numeracy while addressing Nigeria’s persistent out-of-school children challenge.
Also to be launched is the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Nigeria platform, designed to advance women and youth economic empowerment through structured delivery frameworks and partnerships. Nigeria will serve as the implementation platform for the African Union’s WYFEI programme, ahead of its rollout in other African countries.
The event will also feature the adoption of the WYFEI Nigeria Declaration, a national statement of intent committing government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners to coordinated action to unlock Nigeria’s women and youth dividend.
Senior government officials, business leaders, development partners, investors, and civil society organisations are expected to converge in Abuja to strengthen results-driven partnerships for inclusive growth, foundational learning, and sustainable national development.
