The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm on Nigeria’s digital skills gap, warning that the country’s youth are at risk of being left behind in the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Speaking at a two-day media dialogue on “Accelerated digital learning for Nigerian youth,” held at The Patron Hotel, Sangotedo, Lagos, Education Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, Babagana Aminu, emphasised the urgent need for collective action to address the country’s digital skills gap.
“Nigeria’s youth should be its greatest asset, not its greatest challenge,” Aminu said. With a population of over 200 million people, 70 per cent of whom are under 35, Aminu noted that the country’s education system is struggling to produce graduates with skills required by employers, resulting in a 60 per cent mismatch between university output and employer needs.
“The statistics are stark: 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population is under 35, yet 10.5 million children are out-of-school, the highest number globally. Every year, 3.5 million young Nigerians enter the labour market, but 55 per cent of them are unemployed or underemployed. The digital skills gap is costing the country an estimated $11 billion yearly,” he lamented.
To address the country’s digital skills gap, Aminu said the agency, through its Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) initiative, has impacted over 11 million young Nigerians.
The initiative provides access to digital learning, employment pathways, and civic engagement opportunities. The dialogue emphasised the critical role that media can play in amplifying digital learning opportunities for Nigerian youth.
“Media shapes public perception, influences policy, and can mobilise action,” Aminu said.To address the trend, experts emphasised the need to invest in human capital, improve infrastructure, promote vocational training and specialised fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
They also urged the government to collaborate with educators and communities to invest in continuous teacher professional development and retraining.
