NIGERIA: Shettima To Launch New Learning, Empowerment Fund as ASIS 2026 Holds In Abuja

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima is set to launch a new learning and empowerment fund targeted at women, youths, and children, as Nigeria prepares to host the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026

High-Level Policy Engagement in Abuja.

The launch, scheduled for today, will take place at the State House Conference Centre and is being convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System, and other ASIS partners.

The initiative is designed to unlock the potential of Nigerian women, youths, and children and forms part of the outcomes of the ASIS 2026 policy engagement, a continental platform focused on accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals through innovation, financing, and partnerships.

The high-level engagement, themed “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation,” is expected to bring together over 200 senior leaders from government, the private sector, development institutions, civil society organisations, and the diplomatic community.

Key highlights of the event include the launch of policy-backed initiatives such as the Business Coalition for Education and the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund, aimed at accelerating foundational literacy and numeracy while addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge.

Also to be launched is the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion platform, WYFEI Nigeria, described as the country’s flagship framework for advancing women and youth economic empowerment. Nigeria will serve as the first implementation platform for the African Union’s WYFEI programme.

Speaking ahead of the engagement, Vice President Shettima said Nigeria’s future prosperity depends on effective collaboration across sectors.

He said: “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.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, also noted that the ASIS 2026 policy engagement represents a shift from dialogue to action, noting that the meeting will align policy, innovation, and financing frameworks to deliver measurable impact for millions of Nigerians.

The event will also feature the adoption of the WYFEI Nigeria Declaration, a national commitment by government officials, business leaders, and development partners to coordinated action aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s women and youth potential.

Senior government officials, chief executives, investors, development partners, and civil society organisations are expected to converge in Abuja to advance results-driven partnerships focused on inclusive growth, foundational learning, and nationa

l development delivery.