UAE and Nigeria Collaborate to Empower Over 7 Million Youth with Advanced Digital Knowledge and Worldwide Job Prospects
The Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) has entered into a significant partnership with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) as part of a landmark collaboration between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This partnership aims to equip over seven million Nigerian youths with digital skills, entrepreneurship training, civic leadership, and global exposure.
The strategic discussions included high-level talks with His Excellency Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. The key objectives of this partnership are to equip Nigerian youths with cutting-edge digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills, provide civic leadership training, facilitate startup incubation and business process outsourcing (BPO) opportunities, promote artificial intelligence (AI) education, and integrate Nigerian youth into the global digital economy.
One of the key initiatives under this partnership is the establishment of Green House Centres across all 774 Nigerian local government areas. These centres will provide training and access to emerging technologies for the over 210,000 youth who have already enrolled in NiYA.
The partnership will also see Nigeria host a GITEX-powered National Digital Innovation Showcase from September 1–4, 2025. This event will showcase 300 leading Nigerian startups, attracting international investments and partnerships. The National Digital Innovation Showcase is co-created with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and its Director-General, Dr. Inuwa Abdullahi.
This strategic partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Agenda, aiming to position Nigerian youth as creators and innovators in the global digital economy. By fostering skills in AI, startup incubation, and digital work, the collaboration is expected to stimulate Nigeria's tech ecosystem, facilitating sustainable economic growth and integration into global innovation networks.
Minister Ayodele Olawande, Nigeria's Minister of Youth Development, led a high-level delegation to the UAE to discuss the partnership and met with Sheraa's leadership. Minister Olawande stated that Sheraa's dedication to fostering talent and creating meaningful impact aligns well with NiYA's vision.
The NiYA-Sheraa partnership is a testament to the Nigerian government's commitment to equipping its youth with the skills, resources, and international connections necessary for success in the fast-changing digital world. The partnership is designed to open doors to global markets and attract investment for Nigeria's growing startup ecosystem.
The World Bank and IFC have jointly estimated that by 2030, 35-45% of jobs in Nigeria will require some degree of digital proficiency. With much of the digital skills demand stemming from sectors beyond core ICT roles, the urgent need for large-scale digital skill development across all sectors in Nigeria has been underscored. The partnership also emphasizes the need for digital skills development in light of the global demand for such skills.
In summary, the NiYA-Sheraa partnership focuses on empowering Nigerian youth digitally and entrepreneurially, catalyzing startup growth, and enhancing Nigeria’s participation in the global digital economy through training, incubation, and international exposure initiatives. This partnership is a significant step towards achieving Nigeria's digital transformation agenda and preparing its youth for the future of work.
- The strategic NiYA-Sheraa partnership aims to stimulate Nigeria's startup ecosystem through digital skill development, AI education, and finance, fostering the country's integration into the global digital economy.
- To equip the over seven million Nigerian youths with the necessary skills for global competitiveness, the partnership emphasizes education and self-development, especially in technology, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership.
