Why Job-Ready Skills Matter to the Youths in North-Central Nigeria

The growth of Nigeria’s digital economy is creating new opportunities for young people. However, where young people live can influence their access to job-ready skills training, career opportunities, employers, and the networks that connect them to the digital economy.

The World Bank’s Nigeria Digital Economy Diagnostic identifies Lagos and Abuja as having vibrant digital entrepreneurship ecosystems, while also pointing to limited market opportunities outside these cities. Expanding access to relevant digital skills and career preparation beyond Nigeria’s most established technology centers is therefore important to building a broader and more inclusive digital workforce.

To help close this gap, young people across North-Central Nigeria, including Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, need access to training that can prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy. But access to training is only one part of the equation. They also need practical and employability skills that help them understand how their skills apply to real job roles, navigate workplace expectations, and prepare for employment. This makes job-ready training an important part of expanding pathways into the digital economy.

Why Job-Ready Skills Matter

Learning a digital skill is an important first step, but being ready for work requires knowing how to apply that skill in a professional setting. Employers need people who can complete tasks, communicate effectively, solve problems, use workplace tools, and adapt as technologies and business needs change.

This is why job-ready training should help young people:

• Apply technical knowledge through practical tasks and projects.
• Build communication and other workplace skills.
• Understand how their skills fit into actual job roles.
• Prepare for interviews and workplace expectations.
• Gain exposure to employers and possible career pathways.

From Skills to Jobs in North-Central Nigeria

This is where the iDICE Skills-to-Jobs Program comes in.

Implemented by Tech4Dev in partnership with Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE), TeleSoftas, and Taltrix, this free program is designed to equip 50,000 young people across Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory with practical digital, employability, and specialized skills.

The program also aims to reach different groups, including women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and young people from underserved communities, which reflects iDICE's commitment to creating more economic opportunities for all.

Rather than ending at training, the program also includes employability support, employer engagement, career preparation, and access to opportunities that can help participants transition into the workplace.

Participants will learn across three levels:

• Foundational skills including data entry, customer support, digital literacy, call centre basics, and helpdesk support.
• Developmental skills including data analytics, SEO writing, UI/UX, product management, coding basics, and animation.
• Specialized skills including cybersecurity, AI engineering, AI tools, 3D motion, and digital marketing.

The program will also provide CV reviews, interview preparation, job simulations, and employer exposure to help participants understand how their skills translate into the workplace.

Expanding Job-Ready Opportunities in North-Central Nigeria

Nigeria will need digitally skilled workers from far more places than Lagos and Abuja to meet the growing demand for talent. This means creating pathways that allow young people in other regions to develop practical skills and connect those skills to income and employment opportunities.

The iDICE Skills-to-Jobs Program is one attempt to build that pathway in North-Central Nigeria, with deliberate outreach to women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and young people from underserved communities.

Applications are currently open to young people between 18-35 across the region. If you live in North-Central Nigeria and want to prepare for digital and work opportunities, this is an opportunity to build practical, job-ready skills. Apply here: bit.ly/idiceskillstojobs

And if you know someone who lives in North-Central Nigeria and could benefit from this program, share this program with them.