EU Digital Skills Drive Trains Over 18,000, Boosts Inclusion in North-East Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The European Union (EU) has concluded a three-year digital skills programme in North-East Nigeria, marking a significant push to close the digital divide and expand economic opportunities for women, hard-to-reach youth and persons with disabilities in conflict-affected communities.

The €750,000 initiative, implemented by ZOA International between 2023 and 2026, targeted 30 communities across Borno and Yobe states, focusing on inclusive digital transformation as a pathway to resilience, livelihoods and long-term recovery. Its close-out ceremony, held in Maiduguri on 4 February 2026, brought together EU officials, state authorities, civil society organisations and development partners to review achievements and chart sustainability pathways.

Designed to tackle deep-rooted digital exclusion in fragile contexts, the programme recorded tangible results. More than 18,000 individuals received digital skills training, 32 community IT hubs were established, and six schools were equipped with IT services to expand access to digital learning. In addition, a Digital Literacy Working Group was formed to strengthen coordination and ensure continuity beyond the project’s lifespan.

Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, said the programme demonstrates how targeted digital investments can drive inclusive growth when aligned with local realities.

“This project shows that digital inclusion is not abstract policy—it delivers real impact,” De Luca said. “By empowering communities and strengthening grassroots institutions, we are supporting inclusive economic growth that leaves no one behind. Digital inclusion, especially in conflict-affected regions, is essential for resilience, innovation and meaningful participation in today’s economy.”

He stressed that the EU’s Global Gateway strategy prioritises people-centred digital transformation that translates skills and infrastructure into jobs, viable enterprises and long-term economic stability at community level.

Providing an implementation overview, ZOA Programme Manager, Godwin Dominic, described the programme as a critical intervention in regions where access to technology remains limited.

“Beyond training 18,193 people, we focused on building systems that last,” Dominic said. “The IT hubs, school-based digital access and the Digital Literacy Working Group are designed to sustain skills development and coordination long after the programme’s conclusion.”

The Borno State Government also welcomed the initiative, noting its alignment with state development priorities. Representing the government, the Executive Secretary of the Borno Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), Engr. Mohammed Kabir Wanori, said the programme strengthened opportunities for women and youth while complementing existing ICT strategies and policies.

As the project formally ends, partners committed to maintaining the digital infrastructure, community networks and institutional capacity developed over the past three years. The EU said the focus going forward is ensuring that digital skills gained by beneficiaries translate into income generation, entrepreneurship and improved economic participation.

In a region still recovering from years of conflict and displacement, the programme’s outcomes underline the growing role of digital inclusion as both a development and stabilisation tool—one that connects marginalised communities to opportunity, markets and the wider digital economy.

EU Digital Skills Drive Trains Over 18,000, Boosts Inclusion in North-East Nigeria

British High Commission Celebrates Return of 99 UK-Trained Nigerian Scholars

By: Michael Mike

The British High Commission has welcomed home 99 Nigerian graduates who recently completed postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom under the Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship programmes.

The welcome-home ceremonies, held in Abuja and Lagos, brought together scholars who earned master’s degrees, PhDs and fellowships across diverse fields. Of the returnees, 30 studied under the Chevening Scholarship, while 69 benefited from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship schemes.

At the events, the graduates reflected on their academic experiences in the UK and outlined plans to apply the knowledge, skills and global networks gained to Nigeria’s development. They were also presented with completion certificates and formally inducted into Nigeria’s Chevening and Commonwealth alumni networks.

Speaking at the reception, British Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs Gill Lever (OBE), congratulated the scholars on their achievements, noting that many graduated with distinctions. She described the scholars as future leaders and encouraged them to pursue excellence while serving as strong links between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

“I am delighted that talented Nigerians have had the opportunity to study in the UK and are now returning home equipped to make a positive impact,” she said, urging them to take advantage of the networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities offered by the alumni community.

The British Council was represented by its Director of Programmes in Nigeria, Mr Chikodi Onyemerela, who praised the scholars for successfully completing demanding academic programmes. He encouraged them to remain good ambassadors of their UK institutions and to deploy their expertise to tackle challenges across key sectors in Nigeria, while sustaining partnerships with institutions in the UK.

Some of the returning scholars also shared their aspirations. Chevening Scholar, Nankur Pontip Ramdur, a graduate of Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security from Coventry University, said her studies strengthened her commitment to peace and security. She revealed plans to continue community and school outreach on responses to sexual and gender-based violence, alongside work on a book aimed at expanding the initiative’s impact.

Similarly, Commonwealth Scholar, Chimdi Ekwueme, who studied Health Policy, Planning and Finance at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said studying in the UK broadened his perspective by placing Nigerian experiences within global policy conversations, while providing practical insights relevant to the local health sector.

Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships are flagship UK government-supported programmes that provide opportunities for outstanding individuals to study in the UK and develop leadership potential. Nigeria currently boasts one of the largest alumni communities, with over 4,500 beneficiaries across both schemes contributing to national development in public service, academia, business and civil society.

British High Commission Celebrates Return of 99 UK-Trained Nigerian Scholars

Entrepreneur Calls on Government to Rethink Youth Employment Strategy

By: Michael Mike

As Nigeria battles rising youth unemployment and mounting economic pressure, a fashion entrepreneur, Abdusalam Lukman, popularly known as Embroidery Chief, has made a bold case for embroidery and digital garment design to be adopted as a core pillar of the country’s youth employment strategy.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of a large-scale embroidery warehouse, Lukman argued that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on conventional academic pathways to job creation, insisting that practical, technology-driven skills offer faster and more sustainable solutions.

The new facility is projected to empower over 1,000 youths with modern embroidery and digital design expertise, positioning them for immediate employment or entrepreneurship.

Lukman described embroidery as an untapped labour-intensive industry with strong links to Nigeria’s booming fashion and creative sector.

According to him, formal government recognition and integration of embroidery into youth empowerment programmes could unlock thousands of jobs nationwide while easing pressure on the overstretched labour market.

He said: “Nigeria must start creating jobs locally and intentionally,” adding that: “Embroidery is not just sewing; it is technology, design, and production combined. It attracts young people, creates value quickly, and does not require years of university education to be productive.”

He called on the government to support structured training, certification and easier access to funding for industrial embroidery equipment.

Lukman explained that trainees at the warehouse are exposed to the full production chain — from operating and maintaining advanced industrial machines to digitising complex designs — enabling them to become job creators rather than job seekers.

Beyond employment, Lukman highlighted the macroeconomic implications of strengthening local embroidery production. He noted that many embroidered garments and fashion accessories are currently imported, draining foreign exchange that could be conserved through local manufacturing.

“If we produce locally what we currently import, we reduce pressure on foreign exchange and strengthen the economy at the same time,” he said.

The initiative’s training model blends free skills acquisition for machine owners with a monthly intake of selected applicants through an online process, while a growing digital community of over 500 members connects trained designers and machine operators with fashion businesses across the country.

The event also drew support from industry stakeholders and public figures, including Alhaji Aminu Yahaya and popular entertainer Real Warri Pikin, who urged lawmakers and government agencies to back local embroidery machinery distribution, maintenance and production. They stressed the need for backward integration to reduce dependence on imports and position Nigeria as a regional production hub.

Speakers at the launch agreed that with the right policy support, embroidery could evolve from a niche craft into a structured industrial subsector capable of driving employment, boosting GDP contributions and expanding Nigeria’s influence in the West African fashion market.

As debates continue over how best to tackle youth unemployment, Lukman’s proposal adds momentum to growing calls for government to shift focus toward practical, skills-based industries that combine technology, creativity and local production.

Entrepreneur Calls on Government to Rethink Youth Employment Strategy