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About Youthup Global

Our Mission

Youthup Global is a Pan-African social enterprise tackling youth unemployment in Africa through human capital development and experience-based empowerment.
We believe that Africa’s greatest resource is its people — especially its youth. Our mission is to empower young Africans with the skills, experience, exposure, and opportunities they need to build sustainable futures, transform their communities, and drive Africa’s economic growth.
We combine advocacy, capacity building, and digital innovation to unlock pathways for employability, leadership, and entrepreneurship across the continent.

Our Story

Youthup Global is a Pan-African social enterprise tackling youth unemployment in Africa through human capital development and experience-based empowerment.
We believe that Africa’s greatest resource is its people — especially its youth. Our mission is to empower young Africans with the skills, experience, exposure, and opportunities they need to build sustainable futures, transform their communities, and drive Africa’s economic growth.
We combine advocacy, capacity building, and digital innovation to unlock pathways for employability, leadership, and entrepreneurship across the continent.

Our Journey

From a small idea to a continental movement, our journey reflects resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to unlocking Africa’s youth potential.

2020

The Beginning

Youthup Global was launched in 2020 through a WhatsApp group of seven young Africans, united by a shared vision to tackle youth unemployment by providing free digital skills development and work experience–integrated programs.

2021

The Birth of Innovation

We hosted the Innovate Africa Summit, a hybrid event in Lagos, Nigeria. This transformative event brought together innovators and changemakers, and it ultimately gave birth to our first sustainability initiative — Utidia.

2022

The Launch of Utidia

In 2022, Utidia was officially launched as a for-profit subsidiary of Youthup Global, focusing on digital skills development and work placement programs that connect learning with real-world experience.

2023

Establishing UAI

To strengthen the learning framework, we incorporated the Utidia Apprenticeship Institute (UAI) as the training and faculty arm of Utidia — responsible for implementing skills development, apprenticeship, and work-based learning programs.

2024

The Youthconomics Revolution

We introduced Youthconomics, our guiding philosophy that emphasizes human capital development as the foundation for Africa’s economic growth and sustainability.

Early 2025

A Strategic Pivot

We repositioned Utidia into an experience-building and talent marketplace platform, enabling African youths to gain real digital work exposure through gigs, projects, and apprenticeships.

Late 2025

The DigitizeHer Campaign Launch

We launched DigitizeHer, a flagship campaign to empower young African women and girls with digital literacy, employability, and innovation skills — advancing gender inclusion in the digital economy.

2026 & Beyond

Scaling Africa’s Youthconomy

The next phase of our journey is marked by bold expansion –

  • Launching Portfodia, a digital portfolio builder for African talents.
  • Scaling Utidia across Africa as the go-to experience-building platform.
  • Expanding the DigitizeHer Campaign to reach more women and communities.
  • Launching Tech4Underserved, a free digital skills and training outreach for underserved African youths.

Our Goal

  • Empowering Africa’s Youth to Build the Future They Deserve

    At Youthup Global, our ultimate goal is to empower 1 million African youths by 2030 through human capital development — equipping them with the skills, experience, and opportunities they need to thrive in the digital economy.
    We envision a continent where every young African has access to quality learning, meaningful work experience, and sustainable economic opportunities — regardless of background or geography.
    Through our dual-impact model of advocacy, empowerment, and sustainable enterprise, we are building a generation of skilled, confident, and economically active youths driving Africa’s transformation.
    Our goal is not just to help young people find work —  but to build the Youthconomy: a self-sustaining ecosystem where youth potential becomes Africa’s greatest capital.

About Us

Our Core Values (PILOT)

Our culture is built around the PILOT values — the compass that guides everything we do:
P – Passion: We are driven by purpose and the desire to create lasting impact.
I– Innovation: We embrace creativity and technology to shape Africa’s future of work.
L – Leadership: We nurture leadership from within, empowering others to lead change.
O – Ownership: We take responsibility for outcomes and act with integrity.
T – Teamwork: We believe collaboration fuels transformation.

Our Culture

Faith-Driven
We operate with purpose, integrity, and divine conviction. 
Community-Focused
We build inclusive spaces where collaboration and mentorship thrive.
Impact-Focused
Every project and partnership is designed to create lasting transformation in the lives of African youths.

Our Culture

At the heart of our mission lies Youthconomics, a philosophy pioneered by our founder that defines the economic value of investing in youth.
We believe that sustainable economic growth in Africa starts with developing the human capital of its youth — through skills, experience, and opportunity.
Youthconomics is not just a concept; it’s a movement to make youth empowerment a measurable driver of national and continental prosperity.

Founder’s Quote

“I started YouthUp Global not from abundance, but from conviction — the conviction that no young African should struggle for years to find purpose, skill, or opportunity.
When we invest in our youth, we invest in the future of Africa.”

— Dr. Faith Nwaobia Azubuike

 Founder & President, YouthUp Global