The United States has expanded partnerships in Lagos State to address youth and women unemployment, promote gender equality, expand energy access, and advance economic growth. 

The U.S. Embassy, in a statement on Wednesday, said the President and CEO of the United States African Development Foundation, Travis Adkins, visited the Lagos State Government and other organisations from August 18 to 21, 2024, to seal the agreements.

The discussions with the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, and the leadership of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund culminated in the renewal of the USADF-LSETF Memorandum of Understanding for an additional five years.

The renewal contains “a commitment to empower 10,000 young Nigerians with vital trade skills, thereby creating jobs and improving employment opportunities.”

Mr Adkins also visited Reeddi Technologies Limited, a 2020 winner of the USADF/All On off grid energy challenge, and announced a new grant to further support the climate-tech company’s innovative work. 

He said the funding “will enhance the design, local assembly, and distribution of Reeddi’s energy solutions, benefiting small and medium-sized businesses and households in off-grid, energy-poor communities across Nigeria.”

The USADF president also attended a grant award ceremony at a leading vocational and entrepreneurship training institute, the Field of Skills and Dreams VTE Academy, founded by U.S. government exchange alumna Omowale Ogunrinde. 

The institute, through the grant award, “will offer a 12-week training programme for 400 youths aged 18-35 years old in the hospitality and fashion sectors, with the overall goal of addressing youth unemployment by improving job skills and employment outcomes.”

Mr Adkins was also at the launch of the USADF and National Basketball Players Association-supported “What If Youth and Women Empowerment Initiative” basketball camp, led by Nigerian NBA player Precious Achiuwa,” aimed at creating opportunities for youth through sports, as well as empower youth by building their skills, confidence, and resilience both on and off the court.

Throughout the four-day visit, Mr Adkins reiterated the USADF’s commitment to supporting African-led solutions needed to create pathways to prosperity across the continent, noting that the U.S. agency since 2001, “has committed over $44 million in grants and supported over 480 projects across Nigeria.”

Mr Adkins said, “Nigeria is USADF’s largest country programme and I am thrilled to visit Nigeria for the second time in 10 months. Our broad-based partnerships and investments in Nigeria reflect our dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting local businesses and agricultural enterprises, and providing sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities across the continent.’’

The statement indicated that the USADF Nigeria Programme has over the past two decades, focused on boosting the growth of agricultural enterprises, provision of off-grid energy solutions in underserved communities, youth and women’s employability and entrepreneurship initiatives that promote economic growth, peace and stability.