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Unilever Nigeria and UNICEF Join Forces to Equip Over 900,000 Youth with Essential Skills through FUCAP

In a groundbreaking initiative, Unilever Nigeria, in partnership with UNICEF, has successfully empowered more than 900,000 young Nigerians with vital employability skills through the Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme (FUCAP). The program integrates digital and entrepreneurship training to help equip youth for the modern workforce.

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FUCAPSkills DevelopmentUNICEFUnilever NigeriaYouth Empowerment

Lagos, Nigeria. February 23, 2026

The Future-X Unilever Campus Ambassadors Programme (FUCAP), established by Unilever Nigeria Plc in collaboration with UNICEF, has positively impacted over 900,000 young Nigerians by providing them with critical employability, digital, and entrepreneurial skills that are essential for success in the contemporary job market. This innovative initiative, now in its two-and-a- half-year run, benefits from a solid ecosystem supported by UNICEF’s YOMA platform, Unilever’s social media outreach, and networks at higher education institutions.

As a founding global partner of Generation Unlimited (GenU), a prominent public-private alliance aimed at youth development, Unilever connects young individuals with various educational, skill-building, and employment opportunities. The initiative in Nigeria is backed by robust national leadership, with Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima GCON leading the GenU Nigeria Board, showcasing a high level of commitment to youth development in the nation.

Press briefing attendees from UNICEF and Unilever Nigeria discuss the FUCAP initiative.

During a press briefing, Unilever Nigeria's Managing Director, Tobi Adeniyi, articulated that FUCAP exemplifies a successful partnership model that fuses government involvement with UNICEF's extensive development expertise and Unilever’s mission to improve daily life for everyone. He emphasized that the integration of digital learning with direct campus engagement has been central to the initiative's significant reach, noting that over 85,000 students have benefited from 30 in-person career seminars conducted across universities and polytechnics by trained Unilever Future Career Ambassadors (FUCAs) alongside partner institutions. Adeniyi highlighted that the program is strongly aligned with Unilever's sustainability objectives aimed at enhancing livelihoods, directly supporting multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals by empowering youth with essential skills and opportunities for success.

"At Unilever Nigeria, we understand that the youth are crucial to the future and economic transformation of our country. Through our partnership with UNICEF on FUCAP, we are intentionally investing in scalable platforms that equip young Nigerians with practical skills needed for the future while providing real opportunities for learning and career advancement. This approach allows us to create long-term value for young people, our partners, and society, while remaining true to our mission of Brightening Everyday Life for All," Adeniyi remarked.

Also at the press briefing, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF's Lagos Office and lead for Generation Unlimited Nigeria, expressed, "UNICEF, in alliance with Unilever, is dedicated to empowering young Nigerians through the FUCAP initiative. Over the past two and a half years, this program has worked to provide young people with essential skills in entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and career guidance. FUCAP, which is now operational in 20 universities, plays a pivotal role in bridging the divide between academia and industry, delivering practical knowledge to students and facilitating clear pathways into the job market. Through this collaboration, we are reinforcing an ecosystem that helps young people transition confidently from education to employment."

About Unilever

Unilever is recognized globally as a leading producer of goods in the areas of Nutrition, Oral Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care, with sales spanning over 190 countries and benefiting 3.4 billion consumers daily. Unilever Nigeria has a long-standing history, operating for over a century and retailing well-known brands like Knorr, Royco, Closeup, Pepsodent, Vaseline, Rexona, and Pears. More details about Unilever and its offerings can be found at www.unilevernigeria.com. Follow them on Instagram for updates.

About UNICEF

UNICEF operates in some of the world's most challenging environments, striving to reach the most disadvantaged children. Present in over 190 countries and territories, their mission is to advocate for every child everywhere, aiming to create a better world for all. For further information on UNICEF's initiatives for children, please visit www.unicef.org/nigeria.

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