## Yourina: A Comprehensive Guide to Accelerating Youth Career Development

Understanding Yourina

Yourina stands for Youth Unemployment Reduction Initiative in Nigeria. The initiative was launched in 2016 by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in collaboration with the World Bank. Yourina aims to create 1 million jobs for Nigerian youth by 2020. The initiative provides a range of services to youth, including job training, entrepreneurship support, and access to finance.

Key Statistics

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment in Nigeria is currently at 23.1%. This means that there are over 13 million unemployed youth in the country. The Yourina initiative is designed to address this challenge by creating jobs and providing youth with the skills and support they need to succeed in the labor market.

Components of Yourina

The Yourina initiative has three main components:

1. Job Training: Yourina provides job training to youth in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, construction, and information technology. The training is designed to help youth develop the skills they need to get a job and succeed in the workplace.
2. Entrepreneurship Support: Yourina provides entrepreneurship support to youth who want to start their own businesses. The support includes training, mentoring, and access to finance.
3. Access to Finance: Yourina provides access to finance to youth who want to start or grow their businesses. The loans are provided through participating banks and microfinance institutions.

Success Stories

The Yourina initiative has been successful in creating jobs and providing youth with the skills and support they need to succeed in the workplace. Here are some success stories:

• Aisha Yusuf is a 25-year-old woman who participated in the Yourina job training program. After completing the program, she was able to get a job as a cashier at a local supermarket. Aisha is now earning a steady income and is able to support herself and her family.
• Musa Adamu is a 22-year-old man who participated in the Yourina entrepreneurship support program. After completing the program, he was able to start his own small business selling mobile phones. Musa's business is now thriving and he is able to provide a good income for himself and his family.
• Hadiza Suleiman is a 27-year-old woman who participated in the Yourina access to finance program. After completing the program, she was able to get a loan to start her own tailoring business. Hadiza's business is now successful and she is able to support herself and her family.

What We Learn from These Stories

These stories show that the Yourina initiative is making a real difference in the lives of Nigerian youth. The initiative is providing youth with the skills, support, and resources they need to get jobs and start businesses. As a result, youth are able to improve their lives and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.

Effective Strategies

The Yourina initiative has adopted several effective strategies to achieve its goals. These strategies include:

• Partnering with the private sector: Yourina partners with private sector companies to provide job training and entrepreneurship support to youth. This collaboration ensures that youth are trained in the skills that are in demand by employers.
• Using a demand-driven approach: Yourina uses a demand-driven approach to job training and entrepreneurship support. This means that the initiative identifies the sectors and skills that are in demand by employers and then provides training and support accordingly.
• Providing access to finance: Yourina provides access to finance to youth who want to start or grow their businesses. This access to finance is critical for youth who do not have the financial resources to start or grow their businesses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a number of common mistakes that youth should avoid when participating in the Yourina initiative. These mistakes include:

• Not completing the program: Youth should make sure to complete the Yourina program in order to receive the full benefits of the initiative.
• Not taking advantage of all the opportunities available: Youth should take advantage of all the opportunities available to them through the Yourina initiative, including job training, entrepreneurship support, and access to finance.
• Not networking with other youth: Youth should network with other youth who are participating in the Yourina initiative. This networking can help youth learn from each other and share resources.

Call to Action

The Yourina initiative is a great opportunity for Nigerian youth to get the skills, support, and resources they need to get jobs and start businesses. If you are a Nigerian youth, I encourage you to participate in the Yourina initiative. By doing so, you can improve your life and contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.

Additional Resources

• Yourina website
• National Bureau of Statistics website

Tables

Table 1: Key Statistics on Youth Unemployment in Nigeria

Table 2: Components of the Yourina Initiative

Table 3: Success Stories of Yourina Participants