The Federal Government says it is intensifying efforts to position technology and digital education at the centre of youth empowerment, as policymakers shift from traditional empowerment models toward skills development frameworks aligned with the global digital economy.
Central to the strategy is a partnership with The Digital School (TDS), an initiative under Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), supported by the United Arab Emirates government.
The collaboration is designed to equip 50,000 young Nigerians with digital and technology-related skills through training programmes focused on employability, innovation, and global competitiveness.
To support implementation, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has introduced “Nigerian New Tech,” a digital engagement platform intended to centralise access to youth opportunities and streamline programme participation.
To support implementation, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development has introduced “Nigerian New Tech,” a digital engagement platform intended to centralise access to youth opportunities and streamline programme participation.
According to the Ministry, the platform is designed to support merit-based selection processes and improve transparency in the transition from training to employment opportunities.
Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Youth Development, disclosed the initiative during an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), where he outlined the government’s technology-focused strategy for youth development, digital inclusion, and employment generation.
According to the Minister, the programme is expected to produce at least 5,000 internationally certified and job-ready youths within its first six months of implementation.
“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,” Olawande says.
The Minister says the government is focusing on expanding access to structured opportunities for young Nigerians, including those operating within the informal sector.
“Through our partnership with The Digital School and the UAE Government, we are not just training youths; we are preparing them for global opportunities, whether they choose to work remotely or internationally,” he says.
The initiative builds on Nigeria’s broader digital literacy strategy led by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Under NITDA’s “Digital Literacy for All” programme, corps members are being trained as digital literacy champions to support technology skills development in communities across the country.
Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, has previously stated that Nigeria aims to achieve 95% by 2030, with an interim target of 70% by 2027.
The agency is also working with the NYSC to deploy trained corps members as digital literacy ambassadors nationwide.
Officials say the partnership with The Digital School forms part of a wider international initiative aimed at expanding access to digital education and workforce development opportunities in underserved communities and developing economies.
The collaboration follows an agreement signed between Nigeria and the UAE-backed institution in Dubai in 2025 focusing on digital education, vocational training, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness programmes under the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA).
According to programme officials, The Digital School has reached more than 750,000 students globally and trained over 23,000 digital teachers.
The Ministry of Youth Development says transparency and merit-based access remain central to the implementation framework for the initiative.
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