MacArthur Foundation Launches “Nigeria Next” Initiative to Empower Youth and Shape Future
The MacArthur Foundation has announced a significant new initiative, “Nigeria Next,” designed to empower the nation’s youth and amplify their voices in shaping the country’s future. This program builds upon the foundation’s previous successful “On Nigeria” project, which concluded last year. “Nigeria Next” will focus on strategic investments in young Nigerians by fostering digital inclusion, nurturing innovation, creating economic opportunities, promoting civic participation, and influencing government policies.
The “On Nigeria” project, which ran from 2016 to 2024, was instrumental in supporting Nigerian-led efforts to enhance accountability, governance, and transparency across the nation. The new “Nigeria Next” initiative aims to go further by addressing systemic barriers and unlocking the vast potential of the younger generation.
Pillars of “Nigeria Next”
The foundation plans to employ a multifaceted approach through “Nigeria Next,” utilizing a combination of:
- Grants: Providing financial support to organizations and individuals working on youth empowerment and development.
- Impact Investments: Investing in ventures and enterprises that generate social and environmental impact alongside financial returns, with a particular focus on youth-led businesses.
- Thought Leadership: Engaging in research, advocacy, and public discourse to champion policies and ideas that benefit young Nigerians.
These tools will be directed towards several key objectives:
- Addressing Digital Barriers: Working to overcome obstacles that hinder young people’s access to and effective use of digital tools.
- Building Innovation Ecosystems: Cultivating environments where creativity and innovation can flourish, providing young entrepreneurs and creators with the resources and networks they need.
- Promoting Evidence-Based Policies: Encouraging the development and adoption of government policies informed by rigorous research and analysis, with a focus on youth-centric issues.
- Expanding Civic Engagement: Increasing the number of young people actively participating in civic processes, decision-making, and community development initiatives.
A Collaborative and Consultative Approach
The MacArthur Foundation emphasizes its commitment to collaboration. “We work in partnership with MacArthur’s Technology in the Public Interest and Journalism and Media programmes, and we prioritise collaboration with other philanthropic organisations,” the foundation stated. This collaborative spirit was evident even before the formal launch of “Nigeria Next.”
To ensure the initiative was grounded in a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing Nigerian youth, the foundation commissioned a comprehensive research paper. Furthermore, MacArthur staff members undertook extensive travel across Nigeria, engaging in consultative meetings with diverse communities. Colleagues from various MacArthur programs began convening discussions as early as 2022.
The foundation deliberately reached out to communities in both inland and coastal areas, including cities such as Kafanchan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, and Maiduguri, as well as major hubs like Abuja, Kano, and Lagos. This broad engagement was crucial. “Our intent was to listen to a broad range of voices,” the foundation explained. “Through these conversations, interconnected themes emerged related to young people, civic participation, technology, and media.”
Harnessing Youth Potential for a New Nigeria
Kole Shettima, Director of MacArthur’s Nigeria Office, articulated the core vision behind “Nigeria Next.” He stated that the initiative is specifically designed to harness the inherent creativity and boundless energy of young Nigerians. The goal is to enable them to play a pivotal role in making a lasting, positive contribution to the nation’s future development.
“We believe that with greater access to digital tools, spaces that catalyse their creativity, and amplification of their voices in civic spaces, young people can unleash their potential and move us towards a new Nigeria,” Mr. Shettima remarked.
Nigeria stands at a demographic inflection point, projected to become one of the world’s most populous countries, with a significant majority of its population being young. The foundation recognizes that equipping this demographic with essential digital tools, providing platforms for innovation, and fostering opportunities for civic participation are not merely beneficial but critical steps to unlocking their full potential and driving national progress.
Youth as Assets, Not Just Challenges
Mr. Shettima also highlighted the remarkable ingenuity demonstrated by young Nigerians across various sectors, including technology and entertainment. He observed that young people are actively redefining civic engagement, pioneering novel forms of organizations and activism. Their efforts span critical issues such as clean energy, climate change, democratic governance, transparency, accountability, and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
“We are a young nation with 60 per cent of the population under the age of 30, and 42 per cent under 15 years old,” Mr. Shettima noted. “While we recognise the challenges facing young people, we believe focusing solely on problems is not conducive to our goals, so we intentionally chose to view youth as assets.” This perspective shift is fundamental to the “Nigeria Next” initiative, framing young people not as a burden, but as a powerful engine for positive change and national advancement.
