The MasterCard Foundation in collaboration with some development partners, have pledged to create meaningful jobs for no fewer than 10 million young Nigerians by 2030.

Dr Nkemdilim Ene, Project Director, Impact Partner Organisation to the Foundation’s Young Africa Works Project, said this at the Closing Bootcamp for the Young Impact Associates Cohort 1, on Tuesday in Abuja.

It was reported that the development partners include Preston Associates for International Development, Cloneshouse Nigeria (ITAD) and Global Integrity.

Ene said that the project aims to enable young Nigerians, especially young women to access quality education, financial services as well as dignified and fulfilling work.

She added that the first batch of the one-year long programme, had 12 young persons trained on Monitoring and Evaluation, in order to shape the evaluation space in the country.

“We are encouraging them to step into leadership roles, they should speak out and be heard and decide what should be monitored for their age groups.

“We tried to make it a dynamic experience for them and they have been exposed to a multidimensional approach to the various aspects of monitoring and evaluation from practical to the leadership aspects.

“And how to infuse new energy and look out for more traditional, indigenous ways that are appropriate to the Nigerian context in monitoring and evaluation,” she said.

Ene, while congratulating the graduands, urged them to stay updated on the latest trends in the sector and ensure that they constantly seek out opportunities for professional development.

For his part, Mr Oludotun Babayemi, Chief Executive Officer, Cloneshouse, added that the project focused on providing technical knowledge on monitoring and evaluation for young people between the ages of 25 and 35.

He added that the project which had both virtual and physical trainings, also had the beneficiaries placed in some organisations to practice what they had learnt.

“We are building young people who can actually carry out monitoring and evaluation in Nigeria.

“Especially in the context of policies of government, policies of institutions, organisations, projects of International partners, among others.

“What we have seen in the past is that monitoring and evaluation deals with compliance, but we need to move from that and move to the learning purpose,” he said.

Ms Asheadzi Yusuf-Wasuku, a beneficiary, appreciated the group for the privilege, adding that it had built her confidence in the monitoring and evaluation space.

“The Young Impact Associates Programme has given me the platform to learn different things in evaluating projects.

“Right now, I will encourage young Nigerians to key into this opportunity as it has afforded me practical skills in writing proposals, how to respond to proposal, presentation of data among others,” she said. (NAN)

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