Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has announced plans to launch a new women, youth and children learning and empowerment fund, a major initiative aimed at unlocking human capital potential and fostering inclusive development across the country. The launch is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja. 

The initiative is being convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the Sterling One Foundation, the United Nations System, and other partners involved in the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement. The summit brings together government officials, private sector leaders, development institutions, civil society representatives and the diplomatic community to explore collaborative solutions around education, empowerment and sustainable growth. 

According to an official press release, the learning and empowerment fund is part of ASIS outcomes aimed at accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation, financing and partnerships. The summit theme, “Scaling Action – Driving Inclusive Growth through Policy and Innovation,” sets the tone for coordinated action to address major socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria. 

Key components of the initiative include the Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund and the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) Nigeria platform. The Nigeria Foundational Learning Fund aims to improve foundational literacy and numeracy while tackling the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in the country. The WYFEI Nigeria platform is designed to strengthen economic empowerment for women and youth through structured co-investment frameworks, performance accountability and delivery models focused on measurable impact. 

Officials said that Nigeria will serve as the implementation platform for the African Union’s WYFEI programme, with plans for the framework to be rolled out in other African countries after its launch in Nigeria. This positions the country at the centre of continental efforts to drive economic inclusion and human capital development in line with broader African Union priorities. 

In a statement ahead of the engagement, Vice President Shettima emphasised the importance of collaboration between public institutions, the private sector and development partners. He noted that Nigeria’s future prosperity hinges on the ability to mobilise resources, expertise and innovative financing to address shared national priorities. According to the Vice President, sustained and effective mobilisation of funding and support will not only strengthen human capital but also accelerate inclusive growth for women, youth and children across the country. 

Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, said the ASIS 2026 High-Level Policy Engagement represents a shift from discussion to execution-oriented action. She explained that the gathering will align policy, innovation and financing frameworks that enable scalable solutions, delivering real impact for millions of Nigerians and positioning the nation as a leader in sustainable growth on the African continent. 

The planned launch is expected to draw participation from over 200 senior leaders from government, private enterprise, development institutions, civil society and the diplomatic community, all focused on advancing results-driven partnerships for inclusive development. 

The initiative marks a significant effort to strengthen learning outcomes, expand economic opportunities for women and youth and build pathways for children’s growth and development at a time when Nigeria continues to seek innovative ways to improve education and inclusion across all regions.