List of Successful Youth Development Programs in Nigeria. This list highlights the leading youth development organizations that are positively influencing the future of Nigeria’s youth. It is part of FAME’s initiative to showcase organizations that significantly contribute to the country’s youth development through essential sectors such as education, innovation, and economic empowerment.
Youth development programs are crucial for building strong communities and a prosperous future. They equip young people with essential skills, knowledge, and values, fostering responsible and engaged citizens who can contribute to societal growth.
Below is a list of successful Youth Development Programs in Nigeria that have transformed the lives of thousands of youths consistently.
#1. Fashioned and Made for Excellence Foundation (The FAME Foundation) www.thefamefoundation.org.ng – founded in 2017
Fashioned and Made for Excellence Foundation (The FAME Foundation) is a non-profit organization based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It is focused on empowering young people with leadership values, work readiness, and social entrepreneurship skills. The FAME Foundation Global leadership program and the FAME Lead Project are initiatives aimed at developing the leaders we wish we had in Nigeria. These programs focus on providing leadership education and skills training to secondary school students. Since their launch in 2017 and 2018, they have directly impacted over 40,000 youths in secondary schools across Nigeria and have indirectly reached 120,000 youths for nearly a decade. These programs are designed to be scalable and aim to strengthen leadership and the quality of human capital in Nigeria.
#2. Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) www.tonyelumelufoundation.org – founded in 2010
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) is a ten-year initiative aimed at empowering 10,000 young Africans.
#3. Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) www.ja-nigeria.org – founded in 1999
Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) is a non-profit organization focused on empowering young people with financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship skills. Since its launch, JAN has reached over one million students in Nigeria through its programs, impacting a significant number of schools and classrooms across all 36 states and the FCT.
#4. FATE Foundation (FF) www.fatefoundation.org – founded in 2000
The FATE Foundation’s Aspiring Entrepreneurs Programme (AEP) is widely recognized as one of its most successful youth programs. It’s a free, eight-week program designed to support young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, helping them transition from ideation to starting and growing sustainable businesses. Since its launch, it has impacted over 5,348 entrepreneurs across 16 Nigerian states.
#5. LEAP Africa (LA) www.leapafrica.org – founded in 2002
LEAP Africa’s most successful youth program is the Youth Leadership Development Programme (YLDP). It focuses on empowering Nigerian undergraduates under 30 to become self-leaders who drive positive change in their communities through leadership training, active citizenship, and sustainable development initiatives.
This is a dynamic list, and new programs are constantly being launched. For the most up-to-date information, it’s advisable to check the websites of the organizations mentioned.
