Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to AI Development for Youth

The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of the nation’s youth.

The Head of Public Affairs at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Mr Akin Ogunlade, stated this during an interview on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ogunlade emphasised that the Federal Government recognises that any digital training that does not equip trainees with AI literacy is incomplete.

He revealed that DBI has partnered with the US-based SBTS Group, LLC, to improve the overall digital skills of young people across the country.

According to him, the partnership aims to equip Nigerian youth with essential digital skills, enabling them to compete in the global job market.

“As Nigeria’s digital economy rapidly expands, industries such as financial services, healthcare, entertainment, transportation, and ICT are witnessing unprecedented job creation.

“A significant skills gap remains, with millions of digital and ICT-related jobs going unfilled due to a shortage of qualified professionals.

“This collaboration is therefore a direct effort to bridge this gap by providing advanced training in digital literacy, coding, and other high-demand skills in the labour and employment market.

“This aligns with the government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy,” he said.

He explained that trainees would be placed in a job placement scheme, allowing the cost of training to be offset once they secure employment under the ‘train for work’ initiative.

Quoting DBI President, Mr Daser David, Ogunlade stated that the partnership would generate 50,000 direct and indirect jobs within a short period.

“Nigerian youth are the catalyst for transforming our nation’s economic future.

“To transition from an agriculture-dependent economy to a thriving digital landscape, they require targeted IT upskilling.

“This initiative bridges opportunity gaps by providing after-school programmes in digital literacy and vocational training for underserved youth, empowering them to compete in a tech-driven job market and driving inclusive economic growth,” David said.

Also Read: DBI Partners with US-Based SBTS to Create 50,000 Jobs

He added that the collaboration would contribute to the government’s broader mission of fostering decent, productive, and freely chosen employment opportunities for young people while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s national development agenda.

Ogunlade also quoted Evelyn Lewis, the CEO of SBTS Group, as saying that the training would integrate digital skills into vocational education.

Lewis noted that it would also establish comprehensive on-the-job training systems and engage both public and private sector employers in digital job creation.

She said the initiative had commenced with facility upgrades and training programmes at DBI’s Enugu and Kano campuses, with further locations scheduled for subsequent rollouts.

“The initiative also emphasises youth-led digital entrepreneurship, providing participants with the tools to launch and scale their own businesses in the digital space.

“By integrating over 400 new digital courses into training curricula and promoting hands-on learning, the DBI-SBTS partnership is set to drive economic diversification in Nigeria through ICT.

“The initiative’s strong focus on digital entrepreneurship will further accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a tech-driven economy, ensuring sustainable job creation and long-term growth.

“With facility upgrades, BPO centre rollouts, and nationwide training programmes underway, this collaboration represents a landmark effort in positioning Nigeria’s youth for success in the global digital economy,” she said.

The Nigerian Communications Commission established DBI to develop human resource capacity by training personnel in the nation’s telecommunications and ICT sectors.