The Federal Government says it is ramping up efforts to deepen digital inclusion among underserved young Nigerians, with a renewed focus on youths in rural communities and the informal sector through expanded partnerships with global technology companies.
This emerged during a courtesy visit by representatives of Meta Anglophone West Africa Office, led by Sade Dada, to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, where discussions centred on widening access to digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-driven economic opportunities for Nigerian youths.
The engagement signals the government’s growing push to leverage partnerships with major digital platforms to tackle youth unemployment, bridge technology access gaps, and improve participation in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy.
The Minister stressed the importance of onboarding more Nigerian youths onto existing Meta platforms and programmes capable of supporting digital skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, content creation, innovation, and access to global economic opportunities.
Minister: Nigeria to promote innovation, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment
According to the Ministry, the Meta delegation briefed officials on the company’s interventions within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, including programmes aimed at strengthening digital literacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic participation among young people.
Speaking during the meeting, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnerships that promote innovation, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment.
The Minister stressed the importance of onboarding more Nigerian youths onto existing Meta platforms and programmes capable of supporting digital skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, content creation, innovation, and access to global economic opportunities.
Olawande particularly underscored the need for empowerment initiatives to extend beyond major urban centres to reach excluded and underserved communities across the country.
According to the Ministry’s statement, the Olawande encouraged Meta to work closely with government in scaling youth-focused initiatives, “particularly for youths in rural communities and the informal sector,” as part of broader efforts to expand digital literacy and inclusive empowerment opportunities nationwide.
The discussions come amid increasing concerns over unemployment, limited digital infrastructure in rural areas, and unequal access to opportunities within Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy.
The engagement also reflects the rising influence of digital platforms in shaping employment opportunities, creator economy participation, innovation, and skills development among Nigerian youths.
Expanding access to digital tools and platforms, the Minister says, remains central to efforts aimed at ensuring more young Nigerians can participate in emerging opportunities across the global digital ecosystem.
The meeting further reinforced the government’s broader technology-driven empowerment strategy designed to support economic inclusion, innovation, and long-term national development.
In a separate engagement, the Minister also received a delegation from the Institute for Economics and Peace, where discussions focused on the role of youth inclusion and development in promoting peace, stability, and sustainable national growth.
The talks explored how empowering young people through education, innovation, and economic opportunities can contribute to social cohesion and national development.
The discussions further highlighted the growing connection between youth inclusion, economic participation, and long-term national stability in Nigeria.
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