Technical Adviser to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Francis Sani, has said Nigeria is ready to thrive in the digital economy.
This he said was possible by leveraging its youth and global demand for digital skills.
Mr Sani, also Programme Director of 3MTT Nigeria, spoke at the launch of Darey.io and Xterns.ai, their new tech hub.
The event, held Saturday in Lagos, had the theme: “Tech and Tea: Brewing Nigeria’s Technology Innovation Future.’’
Highlighting the role of digital skills, Mr Sani said they were crucial for economic growth, enabling Nigeria to tap into the global outsourcing market.
He stressed the ministry’s aim was to ensure every Nigerian could access technical training, regardless of financial or geographical barriers.
According to him, the partnership with Darey.io would provide practical, AI-driven, project-based learning to enhance training quality and effectiveness.
He explained that the ministry’s approach centres on five pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade, to spur national development.
Mr Sani also highlighted Nigeria’s large youth population as a major advantage in the global digital economy.
He said the ministry was creating an environment to attract tech companies to Nigeria, generating jobs for young people.
Discussing AI’s economic impact, he said it would transform work and value creation, urging Nigeria to position itself for the changes.
Founder and CEO of Darey.io, Dare Oluwafunmilayo, outlined plans to bridge gaps in Nigeria’s digital economy through partnerships and infrastructure development.
Mr Olufunmilayo said their tech hub aimed to create a collaborative space where young people could learn and develop essential digital skills.
He said, “Our aim is to offer young people a platform to gain skills, network with professionals, and build a pipeline of talent for the digital economy.’’
Speaking on their 3MTT partnership, he said the goal was to train three million technical talents using digital tools to track progress and provide career metrics.
Mr Olufunmilayo noted that over 5,000 people had been trained in four and a half years, with 100,000 more currently enrolled through the 3MTT programme.
He noted the education offered was free due to 3MTT support, underlining the importance of public-private collaboration for economic advancement.
He also emphasised soft skills, stating technical expertise alone does not ensure employment; communication and teamwork are equally vital.
Mr Olufunmilayo said the hub fosters collaboration and innovation, with professionals delivering training to enhance learning experiences.
To further empower youth, he announced the launch of the Dare Olufunmilayo Human Capital Foundation.
“The foundation aims to partner with organisations to provide laptops and stipends, supporting talented individuals and encouraging economic growth,” he said.
Regarding certification, he said training would be recognised by platforms such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google.
He added that Darey.io would also issue its own in-house certifications for trainees.
(NAN)
