By Abubakar Yunusa, Abuja
The MasterCard Foundation has partnered with World Data Lab to launch the African Youth Employment Clock, an innovative tool designed to track job growth and employment trends for African youth across six key countries, including Nigeria.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to address youth unemployment and create 30 million job opportunities across Africa by 2030.
The employment clock is more than just a data tool—it provides real-time insights into employment trends, helping governments, policymakers, businesses, and educators understand the current state of the labor market. The data-driven approach will enable stakeholders to make informed decisions aimed at reducing youth unemployment.
Speaking at the launch, yesterday in Abuja, the country director of the MasterCard Foundation, Rosy Fynn, said, “This tool helps us understand where we are, where we need to go, and how we can achieve our ambitious goals. It provides essential data that enables us to identify opportunities and make informed decisions to address youth unemployment effectively.”
Fynn further emphasised that the partnership with World Data Lab demonstrates the foundation’s commitment to empowering African youth.
She highlighted that the MasterCard Foundation aims to create 30 million employment opportunities for young people across Africa by 2030, with a specific goal of generating 10 million dignified jobs in Nigeria.
“Currently, we have provided nearly 3 million Nigerian youth with work opportunities, but we still have a long way to go. The African Youth Employment Clock will help refine our strategies, recommend data-driven programs, and get us closer to our target,” she said.
The clock is also a valuable resource for identifying gaps and strategic opportunities across various sectors, demographics, and regions. Its real-time data will be useful for stakeholders in both the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and the youth community.
As the tool is officially launched, Fynn encouraged all stakeholders to leverage the insights provided to drive positive change. “Let us use this data to make informed decisions, derive meaningful change, and answer the call to action for our youth,” she said.
She stated that this initiative is seen as a significant step towards tackling Africa’s youth unemployment crisis, with the potential to transform millions of lives across the continent.
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