The Federal Government, in partnership with Conclase Consulting Limited, is set to train 50,000 young Nigerians in digital technology, creative industries and vocational skills across seven states in the North-West.
The 18-week programme will be implemented by Conclase through its subsidiary, StacStart, across Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara.
According to a statement issued by the company over the weekend, the initiative will cover 186 local government areas across the seven states. It will combine technical training with employability development, mentorship and certification.
Participants will also have access to internship and job placement opportunities designed to help them secure employment or establish businesses after completing the programme.
Applicants will undergo registration and screening, after which successful candidates will progress through foundational, intermediate and advanced learning levels.
The curriculum will cover artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, software engineering, data analytics, user interface and user experience design, 3D animation, content creation, social media management and graphic design.
Participants will also receive training in vocational areas, including fashion design, culinary arts and food production, broadening opportunities for young people interested in both technology and practical trades.
The programme targets 50 per cent female participation and will include young people who are not in employment, education or training, as well as persons with disabilities.
Chief Executive Officer of Conclase Consulting and StacStart, Adeposi Bamiduro, said the initiative was designed to connect skills acquisition with employment and business opportunities.
“Digital skills are only truly valuable when they create opportunities. Our focus is not simply to train young people, but to equip them with practical skills, connect them to opportunities, and help them turn what they have learned into sustainable careers and livelihoods. That is the essence of Skills-to-Jobs,” Bamiduro said.
Programme Director Abudu Damilola said the initiative would focus on helping participants translate their training into meaningful economic opportunities.
The programme forms part of the Federal Government’s Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises initiative, known as iDICE, which seeks to support Nigeria’s digital and creative sectors.
Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris also highlighted the economic potential of Nigeria’s workforce through the government’s Hire from Nigeria initiative.
“Through ‘Hire from Nigeria’, we are positioning one of our greatest national assets, our people, at the centre of our economic engagement with the world,” Idris said.
The initiative is expected to expand access to technical and vocational skills training across the North-West. Its impact will depend on effective implementation and the extent to which participants gain access to the promised employment, internship and enterprise opportunities.
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