Empowering Nigeria’s youths through digital skills

BY ABIEMWENSE MORU

The global economy is rapidly being influenced by youth-driven digital technology, and Nigeria is taking bold steps to ensure its youths are not left behind.

With a population exceeding 230 million and a median age of just 17, Nigeria’s youth bulge presents both a daunting challenge and a golden opportunity.

Recognising the urgent need to prepare this demographic for the digital future, the Federal Government, in collaboration with international partners such as UNICEF, the United Arab Emirates, and various state governments, is embarking on an ambitious mission: to train more than 20 million Nigerian youths in digital skills by 2030.

This coordinated national effort, driven by initiatives like Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), and numerous state-level digital literacy programmes, marks a transformative moment in Nigeria’s development agenda.

It is not just about bridging the digital divide; it is about creating a new generation of creators, innovators, and global citizens.

At the heart of this movement is Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA), a public-private-youth partnership inaugurated in collaboration with UNICEF.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who recently accepted the role of Chairman of GenU 9JA’s board, called the initiative “a vista of opportunities for our young people”.

His words highlight a clear vision: Nigeria is not seeking charity or handouts, but equitable, mutually beneficial partnerships that align with its Renewed Hope Agenda, a government policy that emphasises inclusive growth, innovation, and youth empowerment.

Speaking during a high-level meeting in Abuja with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Fall, and UNICEF officials, Shettima emphasised the country’s commitment to digital inclusion as a path to both national stability and global competitiveness.

“The digital space gives us the easiest window to get the youth engaged effortlessly,” he said.

The vice-president noted that many young Nigerians were already earning in- comes from global firms while working remotely from home.

The GenU 9JA initiative, which targets young people aged 10 to 24, is built on three strategic pillars: Digital Connectivity, Pathways from Learning to Earning and Youth Engagement and Empowerment.

As of 2024, more than 10 million Nigerian youths have been impacted, with more than 1,500 job linkages facilitated.

But this is just the beginning; the goal is to reach 20 million youths by 2030, a target that underscores the scale and urgency of Nigeria’s digital ambition.

For young Nigerians like Amina Yusuf, a 22-year-old from Bauchi State, this digital push has been life-changing.

Through the GenU 9JA programme, Yusuf enrolled in a six-week virtual boot- camp focused on web development and digital entrepreneurship.

“Before the training, I had never imagined myself building websites or earning money online.

“Now, I have international clients and I am mentoring girls in my community to join the next cohort,” she said.

With her earnings, Amina supports her younger siblings’ education and has started saving to unveil her own digital agency.

Her story mirrors the aspirations of millions of Nigerian youths who, given the right tools and training, can become creators in the digital economy rather than passive consumers.

While GenU 9JA is leading at the national level, individual states are playing critical roles in ensuring the vision reaches every corner of the country.

In Adamawa, for example, the government recently trained 50 youths from all 21 LGAs in Artificial Intelligence and digital skills, including digital marketing, graphic design, web development, and modern workplace communication.

Marking World Youth Skills Day 2025, Hammanjumba Gatugel, the Commissioner for Entrepreneurship Development, urged youths to embrace technology as a means of self-reliance.

“Artificial Intelligence and digital skills are having a global market that our youths can key into,” he said.

The call was emphasised by other state officials and tech mentors, who stressed the importance of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship over reliance on government jobs.

In Anambra, the Solution Innovation District (SID) is another model of digital empowerment.