Telecom
How Increased Access to STEM Education Can Curb Nigeria’s Teeming Youth Unemployment
With over 200 million people, Nigeria has the highest population on the continent, representing a large market for services, investments, knowledge, human capital and more. The country also boasts an increasingly youthful population, with the youth making up 70% of the overall population — posing significant economic benefits such as increased future workforce and potential consumers, as well increased innovation and creativity.
However, despite the country’s potential to compete with world economies through its sheer size, teeming youth, and resources, 63% of persons living within Nigeria (133 million people) are classified as multidimensionally poor, per the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics. According to the report, poor people in Nigeria experience just over one-quarter of all possible deprivations across health, education, living standards, and work and shocks.
Youth unemployment, one of the biggest challenges facing Nigeria is youth, is a by-product of its ever-rising poverty rates. About 53.40% of young people in Nigeria are unemployed and unemployable due to myriad factors, including the dysfunctional education system and a lack of skills demanded by an accelerating digital-first economy.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is increasingly regarded as the go-to solution to Nigeria’s poverty and unemployment problem. Indeed, the country has seen a transformative tech boom in recent years, with 383 Nigerian tech startups raising a combined $2 billion in funding between January 2015 and August 2022 – more than any other country across Africa.
These numbers point to the transformative power of technology as youths flock to developing skills to escape poverty, solve local problems, and contribute to economic development. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s structural and infrastructural limitations extend to STEM education too, with the public education system seeing slow rates of curriculum update, lack of essential laboratories and practical-based learning tools, inadequate number of STEM teachers, and lack of adequate funding, especially in schools within rural areas – limiting opportunities to only the privileged.
These worrying trends indicate a need for urgent intervention and region-specific solutions from the public and private sectors and development partners. Consequently, state governments have identified STEM education as a key solution to Nigeria’s unemployment issue and have devised plans to make it more accessible to marginalised communities.
However, while these promises have been made in the past and present, recent research shows that less than one per cent of youths across key regions have benefited from social security initiatives from the government.
Frustrated by the lack of an enabling environment, millions of Nigerian youths have assumed the responsibility of lifting themselves out of poverty as they scout for opportunities to build skills in STEM and make themselves employable in Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem. One of these youths is Clinton Chidubem Amam, a 22-year-old graphics designer, whose curiosity transformed him from undesirable to undeniable.
His transformation began in November 2022, when Homeless Entrepreneur, a private non-profit organisation whose mission is to empower people out of poverty, enrolled him on a course on IBM Skillsbuild, a free education program focused on underrepresented communities that helps adult learners, high school and university students, and faculty develop valuable new skills and access career opportunities.
“Going above and beyond by challenging myself to increase my knowledge outside of the traditional education system was always a desired part of my learning process,” Clinton said.
“I rejoiced when I first heard about IBM SkillsBuild from my professional coach at Homeless Entrepreneur because it was a key element missing in my journey towards entering the professional world.
“It opened me up to previously unavailable opportunities as it taught me something new, which I couldn’t have learned at school, and ultimately, improving my employability.”
With IBM SkillsBuild, Clinton was able to learn and develop the necessary skills needed for a technology-driven world, assuming the status of a sought-after talent and lifting himself out of poverty in the process.
“The IBM SkillsBuild courses have enhanced my confidence while I become a more competitive professional, who is prepared to strive in tomorrow’s business world. I am now more informed than ever. Learning through IBM SkillsBuild is empowering me out of poverty. I used to feel like a liability to society and now I feel like an asset.” Clinton continued.
Now armed with skills such as project management, data analytics, big data foundations, artificial intelligence foundations, and more, Clinton has watched his career ‘soar and take a new turn and dimension for the better.’ Recognising his growing, layered talent, Plastiks.io, a reputable company fighting against global plastic pollution, and Homeless Entrepreneur, contracted him for two graphic projects presented at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. “IBM SkillsBuild impacted my career by providing me with internationally recognised certification for the Future of Work, which connects me to my future employers in a more meaningful way than ever,” Clinton said.
Like Clinton, millions of other Nigerian youths are seeking opportunities in STEM education to become more employable and self-reliant. However, a concerted effort – from individuals, public, and private organisations – is needed to ensure many end up like him. For years, misconceptions have affected interest in STEM education. A recent study from IBM revealed perceptions from interviewed students, career changers, and job seekers interested in STEM roles. While most respondents listed a lack of awareness regarding the diverse roles and concerns about the financial viability of the roles as barriers to skills development, the high cost of STEM training was perhaps the biggest perceived barrier.
However, IBM is busting this myth through SkillsBuild by partnering with 45 new educational partners around the world across social service, economic development, and vocational organizations, as well as government agencies, and universities, to make free online learning widely available, with clear pathways to employment.
Inspired by his transformation through IBM SkillsBuild, Clinton has vowed to be an object of change to many with similar beginnings: “IBM SkillsBuild has improved my professional reputation and inspired me to work to empower people out of poverty.” he concluded.
Airtel Africa has extended its $100 million share buyback programme, first launched in December 2024, in partnership with Barclays Capital Securities Limited. The scheme, aimed at improving shareholder returns, has so far returned $34.7 million through the repurchase of 14.2 million shares, with $20.3 million still to be acquired.
The initiative, now running until March 2026, follows the completion of an initial $50 million phase in April 2025 and currently includes a $55 million tranche.
The telecommunications group, listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), is operating within regulations that restrict share buybacks to 15 percent of issued shares over two years. All repurchased shares will be cancelled, reducing the company’s share capital and potentially increasing earnings per share (EPS).
The buyback follows a strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, when Airtel Africa reported a 16-fold increase in EPS to 3.4 cents, supported by higher operating profits and lower foreign exchange losses. The company also raised capital expenditure by 27 percent, investing $737 million in 2024 to expand infrastructure and secure spectrum across its markets.
The extension of the scheme, according to Airtel Africa, also reflects its intention to provide consistent shareholder value while maintaining investment in its network. The partnership with Barclays ensures compliance with regulations during closed trading periods and seeks to limit market disruption.
Airtel Africa has in recent years considered a separate listing of its mobile money business but postponed the initial public offering in 2025, choosing instead to direct capital into shareholder-focused measures such as the buyback.
Industry observers point out that buybacks may improve financial ratios by reducing outstanding shares, but they can also indicate fewer reinvestment options. Airtel Africa has argued that its programme complements long-term growth priorities, pointing to a 29.5 percent increase in mobile money revenue and a 24 percent rise in its customer base.
The company continues to weigh shareholder rewards alongside reinvestment, citing foreign exchange volatility and other economic pressures in its largest market, Nigeria.
A decisive call for collaboration, strategic market positioning, and patient capital has been issued by key players in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector to unlock the dormant potential of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
The resolution emerged from the sixth edition of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) organised by Business Remarks at Ikeja, Lagos State, where stakeholders convened under the theme: Unlocking Nigeria’s MVNO Potential: Status, Trends, Investment, and Future Prospects.
The forum, which brought together major mobile network operators (MNOs), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and licensed MVNOs, served as a candid platform to diagnose the critical challenges stifling the growth of the MVNO sub-sector. The forum stressed that the sustainability of MVNOs in Nigeria is a collective responsibility. It called for unwavering collaboration between MNOs, the NCC, and the MVNOs to replicate the success stories seen in other nations, ultimately fostering a more diverse, competitive, and inclusive telecommunications market for all Nigerians.
In his keynote address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida said the entrance of MVNOs is expected to provide competitive niche offerings as well as enhance digital communications ecosystem in Nigeria for the benefit of the subscribers and the Nigerian economy.
Ably represented by the Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Mr Usman Mamman, NCC noted that there are now over 1000 MVNOs globally, with more than 500 operating in Europe alone and 46 MVNO Licenses were issued in Nigeria by the regulator in the year 2023.
Addressing stakeholders, Maida stated that the Commission is not oblivion to the challenges faced by MVNOs in Nigeria, particularly in relation to commercial negotiations. He therefore pledged that NCC is working assiduously with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to improve network capacity.
Furthermore, NCC’s EVC encouraged MNOs to partner with MVNOs to target new verticals, drive margin growth as well as to monetize spare capacity, while urging MVNOs players to recognise the viability of the Nigerian market, invest boldly, and position themselves to reap the long-term benefits of their investments.
In his speech, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, dissuaded MVNO Licensees from blindly adopting foreign MVNOs model for Nigerian local market and consumers. He urged players to conduct diligent market analysis and focus on service differentiation through specialized offerings. “MVNOs need to carve a unique niche specially designed for the Nigerian market,” Emoekpere said.
Speaking on this, the co-founder and executive director, Infratel Africa, Dr Tola Yusuf, stressed that MVNOs in Nigeria’s market must adopt a more strategic approach to succeed in rural and underserved areas. Categorically noting that there are immense potential in connecting these rural communities, Yusuf argued that MVNOs often focus on urban, high-density areas like Lagos, neglecting the vast majority of the population, estimated at over 25 million people who remain completely unconnected.
“The true winners in the MVNO space will be those who develop a clear strategy to serve these markets, even if it requires significant logistical effort, such as using horses or boats to reach remote communities,” he said. He also suggested that the current market might see future mergers and acquisitions, with some license holders potentially selling their licenses as they fail to compete effectively.
Citing examples of banks with MVNOs licenses in other climes, NCC’s Director of Licensing and Authorisation, Mr Usman Mamman during the panel session draws attention to how financial institutions have successfully entered the telecom space by understanding its customers’ needs and tailoring holistic lifestyle services accordingly.
While addressing the need to focus on providing niche services to specific customer groups, Mamman noted that unlike large mobile network operators, MVNOs are expected to be digital-first and flexible, which enables them to be innovative and quickly capitalize on underserved market segments.
On his part, the Director USK Mobile, Dr Chidi Ajuzie, called attention to the capacity constraints by the host MNOs and the revenue- sharing model that can limit profitability. Ajuzie
According to him, “Tier 5 MVNOs are expected to build their own core infrastructure and billing systems (BSS/OSS), but they still rely on the MNO’s radio access network. This creates a bottleneck. Even if a Tier 5 MVNO has excellent billing systems, it can’t offer unlimited data or guaranteed high speeds if the MNO’s network is already at capacity,” he stated.
Ajuzie, however, said some higher-tier are now looking for innovative ways to go beyond the constraint by securing acquiring additional licenses, such as Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Public Licence (PL) licenses.
He also emphasized the
need for a significant expansion of the existing infrastructure, particularly by MVNOs who are now integrating their own fixed infrastructure, such as fiber networks. This expansion, he says, is the only way to “expand the pipe” and create a truly competitive and viable market for all players.
Also speaking ipNX Director of Startegic Business Initiative, Mr Olusola Teniola argued that the nation’s 40,000 telecom towers are grossly insufficient for a population of over 200 million, especially when compared to the United Kingdom’s 75,000 towers for a much smaller population. He stated that unlike developed nations where public funds initially built a robust telecom backbone, Nigeria’s infrastructure was financed by a few dominant mobile network operators (MNOs) who have invested billions.
Teniola posited that the lack of widespread infrastructure, particularly outside major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, presents a major challenge for new MVNOs, which were intended to serve the millions of unconnected Nigerians, particularly in rural areas. He also warned that without substantial new investment to expand the network, the MVNO business model will struggle to succeed, with only those that can survive a long-term, 7-to-10-year investment cycle likely to see a return on their capital.
In her welcome address, the Convener who also doubles as the Managing Editor of Business Remarks, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the Nigerian telecom market is growing at an incredible pace and the level of success recorded in each country with MVNOs is largely dependent on the regulatory enforcement and interventions, wholesale agreement, spectrum access, and on how effectively MVNOs players can navigate these hurdles.
“To succeed, Nigeria must collectively build an ecosystem that is both competitive and sustainable,” Olanrewaju remarked as she brought into focus MVNOs operations in South Africa, Thailand and Argentina.
The forum, TSSF 6.0, stressed that the sustainability of MVNOs in Nigeria is a collective responsibility. It called for unwavering collaboration between MNOs, the NCC, and the MVNOs themselves to replicate the success stories seen in other nations, ultimately fostering a more diverse, competitive, and inclusive telecommunications market for all Nigerians.
Nigeria has recorded an 84 Percent decline in spam SMS after Airtel Africa deployed its Artificial Intelligence-powered spam detection tool, Spam Alert.
According to Airtel, the free service has flagged over 205 million fraudulent and unsolicited messages across 13 African markets within six months.
Nigeria registered the sharpest decline, while Kenya recorded the highest flagged spam volume with 68 million messages, followed by Tanzania with 47 million and Zambia with 33 million.
Spam Alert prefixes suspicious SMS with “SPAM Alert,” providing users with real-time protection against phishing scams and nuisance texts without requiring extra applications.
Sunil Taldar, CEO, Airtel Africa, said the solution demonstrates the company’s commitment to tackling digital fraud as smartphone penetration expands across Africa.
Currently active in 13 of Airtel’s 14 markets, including Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania, the service has cut overall spam SMS by 12% across the continent. Seychelles will join soon, Airtel confirmed.
In Nigeria, Airtel reported that between March 13 and May 20, 2025, the system intercepted more than 9.6 million suspicious messages, of which over 9.1 million originated from off-network sources. T
he AI-powered system scans all SMS in real-time using 250 parameters, including sender identity, link structure, and regional anomalies, processing each message in under two milliseconds without storing content.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) welcomed the innovation.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, said the initiative strengthens consumer protection at a time when spam and fraud are growing more sophisticated. He stressed the need for more collaboration between operators and regulators to reduce digital risks.
The NCC’s 2023 Industry Risk Report had ranked phishing and bulk unsolicited messaging among the top threats facing subscribers, especially in rural areas and among first-time smartphone users.
Airtel’s initiative is expected to ease these concerns by reinforcing trust in mobile communications.
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