• Nigeria launches four-month digital training with Ericsson
• Programme targets 50,000 youths in emerging technologies
• Initiative aims to curb youth unemployment, boost tech skills

Nigeria’s federal government has launched a four-month digital training programme with Swedish telecoms equipment maker Ericsson aimed at 50,000 young people, seeking to close skills gaps and boost employment in the technology sector.

The Connect NextGen Innovation Hackathon was launched on Wednesday, Feb. 11, in Abuja, where Vice President Kashim Shettima described the initiative as a strategic boost to Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, local media reported.

The national hackathon is positioned as an innovation platform, with applications open to students, young entrepreneurs, startups and technology hubs nationwide. Organisers plan to select 50 high-potential teams for intensive technical support following a large-scale mentoring phase. About 10 finalists will advance to an incubation and acceleration stage, with the aim of bringing market-ready digital solutions to market.

Officials say the programme will equip participants with skills in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things and green technologies, while encouraging solutions in strategic sectors including digital inclusion, smart cities and agritech. Peter Olusoji Ogundele, managing director of Ericsson Nigeria, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s digital transformation and to developing local talent, helping position the country to compete in the global digital workforce.

The initiative comes as youth unemployment remains a major challenge. According to the International Labour Organization, the unemployment rate among 15- to 24-year-olds stands at 6.5% in 2025, above the national average. In response, the government has rolled out several programmes to strengthen technical and digital skills, often in partnership with the private sector. In 2025, private sector funding supported the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which authorities say has trained more than 135,000 young people over two years and created well-paying job opportunities at local and international technology firms.

A national digital literacy commission was established in early 2026 to oversee plans to train and certify one million Nigerians by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to reach 95% digital literacy by the end of the decade.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou