FG Targets 50,000 Youths for Digital Jobs Through New Partnerships
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to tackle youth unemployment and expand access to digital opportunities, unveiling plans to train 50,000 young Nigerians in globally competitive digital skills through strategic partnerships and nationwide empowerment programmes.
The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this during a media interview with African Independent Television (AIT), where he outlined the ministry’s renewed focus on measurable impact, transparency, and large-scale youth engagement.
According to the minister, a major component of the initiative is a partnership with The Digital School (TDS), supported by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with skills required in the global digital economy.
He said the programme is expected to produce at least 5,000 internationally certified and job-ready youths within the first six months of implementation.
Olawande explained that the administration is also strengthening sector-specific collaborations, including a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to increase youth participation in agriculture.
He added that the initiative complements ongoing programmes under the Nigerian Youth Academy and other empowerment schemes targeted at improving employment opportunities for young people across the country.
The minister further revealed that the government is scaling up internship, gig economy, and startup support programmes to reach more beneficiaries nationwide. He noted that digital literacy efforts are also being expanded through The Digital School initiative in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency and the National Youth Service Corps.
To improve transparency and ensure merit-based access to opportunities, the ministry has introduced a digital engagement platform known as “Nigerian New Tech.”
“We are moving away from fragmented and tokenistic approaches to youth development. Our focus is to build sustainable systems that empower young Nigerians at scale and with real impact,” the minister said.
He stressed that the partnership with The Digital School and the UAE Government is designed not only to train youths but also to prepare them for remote and international job opportunities.
“For too long, many young Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector, have been excluded from structured opportunities. This administration is committed to ensuring that no young person is left behind,” he added.
Olawande reaffirmed that youth development remains central to Nigeria’s economic growth strategy, assuring that the ministry would continue to deepen partnerships and implement sustainable frameworks for future generations.
