Empowering Nigeria’s Youth: The CORE Development Initiative Story

By: Oluwaseyi Ampitan

In a world where youth make up over 40 percent of the global population, organizations that focus on developing their potential are more critical than ever. One Nigerian nonprofit has been doing just that for more than a decade.

Founded in September 2012 and incorporated in January 2013, CORE Development Initiative (COREDEVINI), stands as a beacon of hope for young Nigerians navigating a world of uncertainty, unemployment, and untapped potential. With a mission to help individuals identify and harness their innate abilities for employ-ability or entrepreneurship.

COREDEVINI has spent the last decade fostering skills, leadership, and opportunities that drive economic growth and social change. As Nigeria grapples with youth unemployment, COREDEVINI’s holistic approach is more vital than ever, empowering the next generation to build a brighter, more inclusive future.

A Vision Rooted In Purpose

Founded by Kai Orga CEO and director of Creating Opportunities and Reinventing Expertise (COREDEVINI) — emerged from a deep understanding of Nigeria’s youth challenges, as highlighted in global reports like the Commonwealth Global Youth Development Index, where Nigeria ranked 140th out of 170 countries in 2013. According to the World Bank, Nigeria has a population of over 225 million with 70 percent under the age of 30.

Recognizing that youth are key drivers of innovation, the organization was established to address barriers such as unemployment, communicable diseases, poor health, and political instability. Its vision is clear: to ensure every young generation identifies its potential and makes a lasting impact in their spheres of influence.

Solutions That Drive Progress

At the core of COREDEVINI’s work is a strategic engagement model encompassing advocacy, outreach, and youth empowerment. The organization delivers a wide array of programs tailored to its target audience: fresh and unemployed graduates, adolescent girls and women, unskilled youth, students aged 11-35, and disadvantaged groups like grassroots youth, orphans, and people living with disabilities.

Key offerings include:

• Entrepreneurship and Employability Training
• Gender Inclusion and Empowerment
• Youth Leadership Development
• Advocacy and Outreach

Trans-formative Programs and Projects

COREDEVINI’s impact spans several innovative programs designed to build confidence, skill, and opportunity among vulnerable groups. In its first decade, the organization trained, developed, and mentored over 2,000 individuals, helping many start businesses, secure white-collar jobs, or gain internships.

• The Cahira Empowerment Project, founded in 2015, targets adolescent girls and young women, particularly orphans and those from low-income backgrounds. The project trains participants in tailoring, baking, make-up artistry, and financial literacy — empowering them to become self-reliant “female warriors,” as the name Cahira (an Irish word for warrior) suggests.

• The LEA Mentoring School Project provides mentorship and learning support for children in public schools across Abuja. Starting with two schools, the initiative now reaches over 350 students across seven schools, offering mentoring sessions, learning materials, and scholarships to top-performing pupils.

• The CORE Employability and Entrepreneurship Conference (CEEC) serves as an annual platform for training, dialogue, and innovation.

• Women Farming/ Cooperative Program in Niger, Jos and Abuja

• The EmpowerHer Serina – Abuja project includes financial empowerment for young adults on cosmetology and confectionary, and The EmpowerHer Benue program provides tailoring skills for teenage girls and young female adults.

More recently, COREDEVINI’s focus on digital skills and innovation has shone through events like the 2023 International Girls in ICT Day and the 2024 unveiling, empowering youth with tools for a tech-driven economy.

Beyond training and mentorship, COREDEVINI plays an active advocacy role — bridging the gap between young Nigerians and policymakers. The organization regularly organizes youth forums and town hall meetings to gather feedback and influence youth-centered policies on employment, entrepreneurship, and gender inclusion.

Over the years, COREDEVINI has hosted more than 50 workshops and summits, including the Youth Innovation Conference, Women Employability and Entrepreneurship Summit, and International Youth Day events. These gatherings not only inspire dialogue but also produce tangible outcomes, from new partnerships to youth-led business startups.

UBEB Recognition
CORE Development Initiative’s mentorship initiative is officially recognized and approved by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Abuja, for its consistent work in supporting public primary education through mentorship and life skills programs. The organization currently partners with 21 LEA primary schools across the FCT, delivering mentorship sessions focused on character building, leadership, menstrual hygiene, mental health, and first aid. This recognition underscores COREDEVINI’s credibility and commitment to advancing inclusive education and child development in Nigeria.

Upcoming Projects
COREDEVINI continues to expand its reach with several groundbreaking initiatives designed to deepen community impact and empower women, youth, and children:

• Digital Skills Inclusion in LEA Schools (Glow Tech and Animation Hub) – promoting digital literacy and creative technology among public school students.

• Sapphire Women Farming and Cooperative in Jos – expanding a sustainable farming project that enhances food security and supports economic independence for vulnerable women.

• Sentinel Oak Men Farming and Cooperative – empowering men in vulnerable communities through sustainable agriculture and cooperative business models.

• Clean Start, Bright Future – a menstrual hygiene and dignity program improving school attendance, confidence, and health among adolescent girls.

Why COREDEVINI Stands Out

What sets COREDEVINI apart is its deep expertise in Nigeria’s youth landscape, combined with innovative, localized solutions. Through feedback systems, partnerships with international organizations, governments, and community groups, and a membership charter like the CORE Employ-ability and Entrepreneurship Club, the organization ensures long-term follow-up and measurable progress. In a nation where higher learning institutions produce millions of graduates annually with limited preparation, COREDEVINI’s emphasis on self-knowledge, employ-ability mentality, and entrepreneurial capacity fills a critical void.

Join The Movement

COREDEVINI invites partners, donors, and collaborators who share their vision of empowering the next generation to join them. Together, partners can create safe learning spaces, expand mentor-ship across more schools, strengthen livelihood opportunities for women, and drive local impact that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Kai Orga, COREDEVINI’s founder says, “Our journey at CORE Development Initiative is rooted in the belief that every child deserves guidance, every woman deserves opportunity, and every community deserves hope. We started small — one classroom, one conversation, one girl or woman lifted, one act of care — and today, we’re nurturing thousands of dreams. The future we envision is one where knowledge is power, compassion drives action, and development is not just seen but felt in every home.”

As Nigeria’s economy evolves, COREDEVINI remains at the forefront, driving progress with empowering initiatives. Visit www.coredevini.org to learn more, or connect on Facebook (@Coredevini), Instagram (@coredevini), or X (@coredevini1). For partnerships or inquiries, reach out at Coredevini1@gmail.com            or +234 (0) 703 340 9059 / (0) 803 516 2629. With COREDEVINI, Nigeria’s youth future is not just promising—it’s unstoppable.