Dignified work for 100,000 young Nigerians
YOU-RISE trains NYSC corps members and unemployed graduates, places them in paid internships, and matches them to employers — through Youthwork, a digital pathway from classroom to career.
A broken education-to-employment pipeline
Nigeria stands at a demographic crossroads. Over 70% of the population is under 30, and 1.5–2 million young people enter the labour force every year — a huge potential dividend the country isn't yet capturing.
Most new jobs are informal or mismatched with graduate skills, and the systems meant to connect education to employment lack the scale, coherence and data to close the gap. The rebased national unemployment figure of 4.8% masks deeper structural issues affecting young people.
One pathway from training to work
Every student — whether an NYSC corps member or a graduate — follows the same journey: structured training, a paid internship, and a job placement. Corps members begin with a 3-week SAED orientation first.
6-month training
Self-paced and instructor-supported learning through Youthwork, building digital and professional skills.
Paid internship
A 4-month placement with a host organisation, with a $100 monthly stipend.
Job placement
The internship is designed to convert into dignified, ongoing employment.
An eight-module, six-month curriculum
Delivered through Youthwork as a mix of self-paced modules, virtual workshops and mentorship — designed to run alongside an NYSC placement.
Built for inclusion from the start
NYSC corps members and post-NYSC graduates aged 18–29, with reserved places for women and persons with disabilities.
65%
of participants will be women — a deliberate equity target, not an aspiration.
5%
of places are reserved for persons with disabilities, with accessible platform design and recruitment.
Hire from a pipeline of trained, job-ready youth
Opportunity Xchange connects your open roles to NYSC-certified candidates trained for your sector — at no recruitment or training cost.
Access trained talent at no cost
Tap into a pool of pre-screened, sector-trained candidates — no recruitment or training spend required.
Lower onboarding risk
Assess fit with pre-trained candidates during their service year before committing to a long-term role.
Shape the curriculum
Partner with training providers to align what's taught with what your business actually needs.
Boost CSR and gain recognition
Strengthen your CSR profile with visibility in NYSC reports and events.
To host interns, your organisation should be:
- Legally registered — NGO, private, or public entity
- Active in a priority sector — agri-tech, logistics, EdTech, health, and more
- Able to offer a safe, inclusive workspace for all staff and interns
- Willing to mentor and share regular progress reports
- Committed to non-discrimination and accessible practices
Opens the employer portal, where you can register your organisation and post roles.
Anchored in national infrastructure
YOU-RISE is aligned with existing public systems to maximise reach, efficiency and sustainability.
Let's build Nigeria's youth work pipeline
A scalable, digitally-enabled pathway from training to dignified work — for 100,000 young Nigerians over three years.