The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reaffirmed its commitment to equipping young Nigerians with critical digital and entrepreneurial skills to bridge the country’s digital divide. As part of its efforts, UNICEF aims to train 20 million young Nigerians in digital skills, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurship training by 2030. This initiative is in partnership with the Nigerian government, private sector players like Microsoft, Airtel, and IHS Towers, and international partners.
According to Babagana Aminu, UNICEF Nigeria Education Specialist, the organization plans to train 700,000 youths in AI skills and 500,000 in basic digital literacy in 2025 alone. This effort is part of UNICEF’s Passport to Earning program, which delivers courses on digital literacy and generative AI. The program has already reached over 9 million youths since its launch in 2021 under the Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU) platform.
The initiative is designed to prepare Nigeria’s youth for the evolving job market, which demands digital skills, especially in AI and emerging technologies. UNICEF’s mission is to ensure that Nigerian youth are not just consumers of technology but creators and innovators. By providing digital skills training, the organization aims to empower young Nigerians to thrive in the digital landscape and become better citizens.
The partnership between UNICEF and the Nigerian government is a significant step towards addressing the country’s digital skills gap. With a growing youth population, Nigeria needs to equip its young people with the skills required to compete in the global economy. The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s economic development and will help to unlock the potential of its youth population.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to this partnership, with Vice President Kashim Shettima set to chair the Generation Unlimited Board. This initiative is a testament to the government’s efforts to prioritize education and skills development for its youth population. By working together, UNICEF and the Nigerian government can create a brighter future for the country’s young people and empower them to become leaders and changemakers in their communities.
