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FG to Provide Enabling Environment for Success of Digital Training
Mr Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communication, yesterday said government would provide an enabling environment for the youths to thrive digitally.
Shittu said this during the media briefing organised by Google to mark the Digital Skills for Africa to reach one million people, tagged: Digital Million Milestone.
The minister was represented by Mrs Monisola Udoh, the Director, Information Communication and Technology (ICT) of the ministry.
According to Shittu, the impact the training will have on the youth will be enormous, therefore there is need for government to key into the Google training.
“There is need for proper policy and guideline that will make way for an enabling environment for the youths to thrive digitally,’’ he said.
Shittu said that government had a major role to develop the human capacity and ICT was a platform that they would leverage upon.
He said that Nigeria had a good productive age group and their energy should be harnessed, which Google could make globally competitive.
Mr Smart Akande, the Legal Adviser, Office of SSA to the President on Sustainable Development Goals said that one of the goals of government was to remove poverty in the country and Google Digital Skills training was an avenue to do so.
“When the economy is not growing, poverty thrives and the bulk of people that will be affected are the youths and our major concern is graduates that do not have access to digital skills.
“Today, we are saying recession is everywhere, it is the aggregate of all efforts will bring the country out of recession,’’ he said.
Akande said that in the nearest future with this kind of skills training, Nigeria would be transformed to be better informed to compete at international level and the economy all to be better.
Mr Tayo Olosunde, the Managing Director, Mindthegap, said that young people want to be successful as such needed the opportunity to launch out.
Ms. Bunmi Banjo, the Head of Brands and Digital Skills at Google Nigeria, said that the journey to one million was to figure out what could be done to help the economy progress.
According to her, making sure that there is an impact on the trainee was the next thing on the mind of Google.
“Having one million digitally skilled young people in Africa is good for everyone.
“If young people have the right skills, they will build businesses, create jobs and boost economic growth across the continent.
“How to connect the young people in Africa for them to better utilise the internet as a person or as a Small and Medium Enterprises to create jobs and help people in the community is our goal.
“There is need for Africans to also contribute to the digital economy,’’ she said.
Banjo said that the 27 countries participated in the training of which 97 per cent was done offline while three per cent was online and that 53 per cent were men while 47 per cent were women.
She said that out of the one million trained, 500,000 were from Nigeria, attributing that to the support it got from government and the private sector.
Banjo said that going forward Google would develop an offline kit that did not have access to data, adding that local languages would be introduced more to focus on women to bridge gender gap.
She said that an impact accessing programme would also be conducted to make sure that the training they got was better utilised.
Some of the beneficiaries of the Google Digital Skills for Africa One-Million Milestone are Oluwamayowa Oshidero (Ibadan), Vanessa Morris (Lagos), Tele Williams-Aina (Lagos), Vanessa Mbaramah (Coutonu) and Segun Abodunrin (Lagos).
A trainee, Morris said: “I learnt to do things strategically and that came from the tools and skills I got from the training.’’
Another trainee, Abodunrin said that the training provided a platform for him to access businesses that would help him to succeed.
Earlier, the Google Country Manager, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, said that the web was a driver of economic growth and was transforming society as a whole.
According to her, people must be equipped through training and re-skilling to make use of the tools and take advantage of it for entrepreneurship, employment and e-inclusion.
The Digital Skills for Africa programme was aimed to help close the digital gap in Africa, improve employability and encourage entrepreneurship among young people.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology across domestic and international airport terminals to tackle the growing problem of delayed, misrouted and missing luggages
Michael Achimugu, director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos.
Achimugu said the RFID-enabled system would replace the traditional barcode-based baggage tracking framework and provide airlines and passengers with real-time visibility of checked luggage from check-in to final collection.
According to him, the technology would improve baggage traceability, reduce mishandling and strengthen accountability across the baggage-handling chain.
Unlike conventional barcode systems, RFID technology allows baggage to be automatically scanned at multiple points without requiring direct line of sight, enabling real-time tracking of luggage throughout its journey.
Achimugu said issues involving short-landed, missing, lost or damaged baggage had remained among the major complaints from air travellers, alongside flight delays.
He said the introduction of RFID technology was therefore aimed at improving baggage-handling standards and restoring passenger confidence in the aviation sector.
The NCAA said the initiative also aligns with IATA Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track baggage at key points during the passenger journey.
The authority expects the technology to provide more accurate information on the location of luggage, facilitate quicker resolution of baggage-related complaints and improve the overall passenger experience.
The NCAA said the initiative would also strengthen accountability among airlines and other stakeholders involved in baggage handling at Nigerian airports.
eTranzact International Plc has called for increased adoption of digital payment solutions among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), saying access to technology is critical to improving business efficiency, financial inclusion and growth.
The company also said it was deepening its partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand digital access and financial literacy among small businesses across the country.
In a statement, the Divisional Head, Merchant Services, eTranzact, Mrs. Abimbola Reis, stated this at the SMEDAN/eTranzact Town Hall Engagement in Lagos recently, themed, “Financial Literacy and Inclusion for MSMEs Leveraging on Fintech Innovation.”
Reis described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that the sector comprises almost 40 million businesses and contributes significantly to economic growth and job creation.
However, she said many businesses continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, inefficient payment systems, weak financial reporting, cash-flow constraints and inadequate access to digital platforms.
She added that trust concerns also affect businesses’ ability to access finance, while heavy reliance on cash increases exposure to theft and makes payment reconciliation more difficult.
Representing the Director-General of SMEDAN, Prof. Yinka Fisher said the town hall was aimed at generating practical ideas and solutions that would support the growth and expansion of MSMEs.
“The essence of this engagement is to share ideas and concepts that will help MSMEs thrive and expand. Our partnership with eTranzact is about expanding the frontiers of MSMEs and ensuring they continue to grow,” he said.
Also speaking, representative of the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Praise Adedigba said businesses could no longer depend solely on hard work to remain competitive.
As the world marks International Youth Day, attention once again turns to the opportunities and challenges facing young people as they prepare for work, financial independence, and adulthood.
In Nigeria, the urgency is clear. According to UNICEF, about 7% of young people aged 15–24 possess basic ICT skills, highlighting a wider gap in the skills required to participate effectively in an increasingly digital economy.
At the same time, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, continues to prioritize skills development, job creation, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
For PalmPay, youth empowerment goes beyond corporate social responsibility. It is an investment in the people who will shape Nigeria’s workforce, businesses and economy.
This belief is reflected in initiatives focused on financial literacy, employability, digital skills and access to opportunities.
Through its Graduate Trainee Programme, PalmPay provides young graduates with opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop professional skills and build careers in a fast-evolving industry.
The investment also extends to financial education. Through its NYSC Financial Literacy Programme, PalmPay brings practical financial education to young Nigerians at an important transition point, helping Corps members develop better habits around saving, spending, budgeting and protecting their money.
For young women, Purple Woman provides another pathway to economic empowerment, creating opportunities for internships, learning and professional development while supporting greater female participation in the technology sector.
Speaking on the importance of youth empowerment, Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s young population is one of its greatest assets, but unlocking its potential requires access to the right skills, knowledge and opportunities. At PalmPay, we are committed to equipping young Nigerians to learn, earn and thrive in an increasingly digital economy. We believe that investing in young people today is an investment in a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria.”
These initiatives reflect a broader belief that youth empowerment is most meaningful when young people are given the knowledge, exposure and opportunities to apply what they learn.
A graduate given workplace exposure today can become tomorrow’s business leader. A Corps member who develops sound financial habits can carry those lessons into their career and personal life. A young woman given access to professional opportunities can gain the confidence, experience, and networks to create opportunities for others.
Investing in young people is a great strategy for building a stronger, more productive, and more inclusive economy.
This International Youth Day, PalmPay reaffirms its commitment to investing in young Nigerians and contributing to a broader national ambition where the young population is not just counted, but equipped, employed, empowered, and positioned to lead.
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