Nigeria has announced a bold plan to train 20 million young people in digital skills by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to combat youth unemployment and strengthen the country’s position in the global digital economy.
The initiative, launched in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) platform, was unveiled following a recent meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and UN officials in Abuja.
“This initiative opens a window of opportunities for our young people,” Shettima said in a statement released Monday. “If we want to thrive in a fast-changing world, we must empower our youth through digital skills.”
Shettima also agreed to chair the board of GenU 9JA, a public-private-youth partnership aimed at expanding access to digital tools and creating economic opportunities for young Nigerians.
The programme aligns with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is structured around three core pillars: digital connectivity, creating pathways from education to employment, and youth empowerment.
UNICEF officials at the meeting reported steady progress since the platform’s 2022 launch. Dr. Rownak Khan, UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, said Nigeria is among the top countries globally in implementing youth-focused digital development under the GenU model.
Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, added that over 10 million young Nigerians have already benefited from GenU 9JA, with more than 1,500 individuals securing job placements.
However, Nigeria continues to face a significant digital skills gap. A 2023 survey by Nigerian edtech company GetBundi revealed that more than 100 million young people lack basic digital literacy. Of 100 surveyed National Youth Service Corps members, only 19 reported any digital skills, most limited to Microsoft Excel. Advanced digital capabilities such as programming and data science were virtually non-existent among locally educated graduates.
Critics have long argued that Nigeria’s education system remains outdated and fails to prepare students for the realities of a digital economy. Many institutions of higher learning offer little or no practical training in modern, in-demand digital skills.
This new initiative builds on earlier government programs, including the Digital Nigeria Programme (launched in 2020) and the National Information Technology Development Agency’s Digital Literacy Drive, both of which aim to increase access to online learning and digital skills training, especially in rural areas.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohammed Fall, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s goals around youth employment, skill development, and digital inclusion.
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