DBI, SBTS partnership to create 50,000 jobs, upskill five million

A new partnership agreement signed between the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and a US-based SBTS Group LLC will create 50,000 immediate jobs and upskill over five million Nigerian youth by 2030.

Head, Public Affairs, Digital Bridge Institute, Akin Ogunlade, said the two organisations will conduct the official launch of the strategic partnership in Abuja this February. He disclosed that the initiative aimed to equip Nigerian youth with essential digital skills and empower 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. However, a significant skills gap remains, with millions of digital and ICT-related jobs going unfilled due to a shortage of qualified professionals.

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

He added that the effort is in alignment with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and the three million technical talent (3MTT) initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy under the Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of DBI, Daser David, said the partnership seeks to upskill over five million Nigerian youth by 2030 and create about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs within a short time.

David, while emphasizing the transformative impact of the initiative, said: “Nigerian youth are the catalyst for transforming our nation’s economic future. To pivot from an agriculture-dependent economy to a thriving digital landscape, they require targeted IT upskilling. This initiative bridges opportunity gaps by providing after-school programs in digital literacy and vocational training for underserved youth, empowering them to compete in a tech-driven job market and fuelling inclusive economic growth.”

The DBI President stated 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 Ahmed Tinubu’s national development agenda.

He added: “The partnership between DBI and SBTS is a direct response to Nigeria’s digital skills deficit, focusing on job creation and economic empowerment. Each DBI campus will host a business process outsourcing (BPO) centre, designed to create thousands of job opportunities for young Nigerians, enabling them to secure both local and remote employment in the global digital economy.”

Also, Evelyn Lewis, the CEO of SBTS Group, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empowering Nigerian youth, adding, “Despite the negativity and sense of hopelessness often portrayed, there are abundant opportunities for youth in Nigeria. We are excited to collaborate with DBI in advancing the Federal Government’s agenda to train and equip unemployed youth with digital skills and comprehensive ICT knowledge, empowering them for a brighter future.”
She pointed out that the training would integrate digital skills into vocational education, establish comprehensive on-the-job training systems, and engage public and private sector employers in digital job creation, adding that the initiative has already commenced with facility upgrades and training programs at DBI’s Enugu and Kano campuses, with other locations scheduled for subsequent rollouts.

Under the agreement, the SBTS Group will provide technical and financial support, ensuring that young Nigerians receive industry-relevant training that meets global standards.

The initiative also emphasizes youth-led digital entrepreneurship, providing participants with the tools to launch and scale their 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 of Nigeria through ICT; while 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.