The Nigerian government is taking steps to develop digital skills among its population, with a focus on its youth. In May 2024, Nokia partnered with the country's telecom regulator to train young Nigerians in 4G and 5G technologies.

Swedish tech company Ericsson plans to invest $19 million in building a technology center in Nigeria. The initiative was disclosed on Thursday, October 17, by Peter Olusoji Ogundele, the managing director of the company’s Nigerian subsidiary, during a business forum held as part of a two-day working visit by Nigeria's Vice President, Kashim Shettima (pictured), in Sweden.

“Nigeria has enough youths that can come into that field. We can train them, Ericsson will also take part in it, and some of them we can export to the world, and we will be like another India,” Ogundele stated.

This partnership comes in the context of increasing demand for digital skills as the country’s digital transformation accelerates. In October 2023, the government launched the "3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT)" program, aiming to train 3 million Nigerians in technical skills over three years. In recent months, it has also formed partnerships with companies such as Finnish equipment manufacturer Nokia and telecom infrastructure builder IHS Towers to train Nigerians in digital competencies.

Ericsson’s initiative is expected to create additional jobs and enhance the skills of workers, addressing the growing need for a qualified workforce as Nigeria’s digital transformation progresses. A 2021 World Bank study estimates that Nigeria will require approximately 28 million workers trained in digital skills across various economic sectors by 2030.

Isaac K. Kassouwi