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.
MTN Nigeria has marked 25 years of commercial operations, with Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, saying the company began operating in the country at a time when telecommunications access was severely limited.
Toriola said that a quarter of a century ago, making a phone call was a privilege few Nigerians could afford.
People queued at public telephone booths and centres, travelled long distances to deliver messages, and sometimes waited weeks for letters to arrive, he said, noting that a mobile phone was then beyond the reach of most.
Today, the company connects more than 90 million people across Nigeria, a figure MTN says reflects its role in building the infrastructure behind the country’s shift to a data-driven economy.
MTN entered Nigeria in 2001 following the GSM liberalisation carried out by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), at a time when mobile telephony was still a luxury reserved for a privileged few.
Toriola said the milestone was about more than subscriber numbers.
Businesses have been built, families have stayed connected across distances, students have gained access to knowledge, and creators have found audiences beyond Nigeria’s borders, he said, crediting the wider telecommunications ecosystem for enabling entire new industries to emerge.
The company also pointed to its role beyond direct connectivity.
MTN has helped build a wider value chain of SIM registration agents, tower contractors, retail distributors, fintech partners and digital developers that now supports millions of livelihoods in Nigeria.
Toriola thanked MTN Nigeria’s customers, saying their trust had allowed the company to expand its community investments through the MTN Foundation, which has supported health, education, youth development and economic empowerment programmes.
Looking ahead, the CEO acknowledged that significant connectivity gaps remain, with millions of Nigerians still needing access to reliable, affordable and inclusive digital services.
He said greater digital inclusion would be a central priority for the company’s next chapter, adding that the anniversary marks both a celebration of the past 25 years and a renewed push to expand digital access for the country’s young and growing population.
“We’ve come a long way. And we are only getting started,” Toriola said.
The anniversary comes as MTN Nigeria continues to navigate rising operating costs tied to Nigeria’s unreliable power supply.
Where the national grid is unreliable, the company and its infrastructure partners have had to rely on diesel generators, batteries, solar systems and other backup power solutions, making network operating costs highly sensitive to fluctuations in diesel prices.
Telecommunications subscribers under the umbrella of the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS), has handed telecommunications operators in the country September deadline to improve network quality or face legal action.
Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, NATCOMS, said that subscribers have endured deteriorating network services despite repeated interventions, warnings, and sanctions by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
As reported by BusinessDay, Ogunbanjo, noted that if the situation fails to improve through regulatory intervention, NATCOMS will seek justice through the courts by the end of the third quarter.
The ultimatum comes as rising data consumption, subscriber migration, and growing demand for mobile services place severe pressure on network infrastructure across parts of the country.
The NCC stated that mobile operators have offered compensation to more than 75 million subscribers for poor network quality following a regulatory directive requiring restitution in locations where performance fell below required standards.
The regulator is conducting an independent review to determine whether all eligible subscribers received proper compensation.
The compensation scheme, provided through automatic airtime credits for verified service failures dating back to November 2025, requires no individual claims from consumers.
For many subscribers, however, airtime credits do little to offset the broader economic and personal toll of unreliable connectivity.
Emeka Douglas, a subscriber, recounted how poor network quality nearly turned a medical emergency into a tragedy when he was unable to transfer funds to a hospital during his wife’s surgery.
Douglas noted that his brother in the United States eventually sent funds directly to the hospital’s account after local banking channels failed.
Janet Okoye, a small business owner, said unreliable connectivity severely affected her business after service disruptions on her Airtel and Globacom lines led clients to cancel orders.
Teniola Adeyemi, a university student, highlighted dropped calls as a major concern, stressing that recent tariff increases ought to reflect in better service quality.
Grace Eze, an Abuja-based media professional, explained that fluctuating network connectivity once delayed a lead news story intended for her editor in Lagos, resulting in an official query over late submission.
Pressure on national networks is driven by both expanding subscriber numbers and rising usage intensity.
Active telephony subscriptions in Nigeria rose from 182.2 million in January 2026 to over 187 million by April, according to NCC data. MTN leads the market with 96.4 million subscriptions, followed by Airtel with 64.7 million and Globacom with 23.2 million.
Telecom
ipNX Collaborates with ICT Stakeholders on the Future of Fibre-to-the-Home in Nigeria @ ATCON Forum
ipNX Nigeria joined other stakeholders across the telecommunications ecosystem as they convened at the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Critical Conversation Forum on Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) to deliberate on practical solutions to the challenges affecting broadband infrastructure deployment and the future of fibre connectivity in the country.
The forum, themed “Fibre to the Home in Nigeria: Addressing Challenges, Strengthening Standards and Ensuring Sustainable Deployment,” was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos, and brought together representatives from government agencies, telecommunications operators, regulators, infrastructure providers, industry associations, and the media to foster dialogue around policies and collaborative actions needed to accelerate Nigeria’s broadband ambition.
Delivering the keynote address virtually, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, described Fibre-to-the-Home as a critical enabler of Nigeria’s digital future.
“FTTH is uniquely positioned to meet Nigerians’ next phase of data demand. The quality of our broadband will increasingly shape the competitiveness of our businesses, the growth of our digital industry and the opportunities available to our citizens,” he said.
Dr. Maida also stressed the importance of protecting telecommunications infrastructure, noting that damage to fibre networks carries significant economic consequences.
“We must uphold deployment standards. Nigeria needs fibre that is properly installed, properly documented, and properly protected.”
Speaking during the opening session, ATCON President, Mr. Tony Emoekpere, underscored the strategic importance of FTTH in achieving Nigeria’s broadband penetration targets while calling for greater public awareness around protecting communications infrastructure.
“This forum is critical because Fibre-to-the-Home is the technology that will enable the country to achieve full broadband penetration. We all depend on communication infrastructure, and it must be protected.”
Drawing a comparison with power infrastructure in the country, he added:
“If somebody comes to your neighbourhood to tamper with your transformer or power cables, everybody will come out. The same thing needs to apply for communications infrastructure. When we see people damaging fibre cables, we should raise an alarm.”
The forum also highlighted successful collaborative initiatives at the state level. Speaking on infrastructure management, Director-General of the Oyo State Infrastructure Management and Control Agency (OYSIMCA), Mr. Adebayo Akande, shared how the agency is addressing fibre theft, vandalism, and promoting shared infrastructure among operators.
He explained that encouraging operators to utilise common pole infrastructure along shared routes would reduce unnecessary duplication, minimise infrastructure damage, improve urban aesthetics, and optimise investment across the sector.
Similarly, Managing Director of the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Mr. Eghosa Urhoghide, advocated stronger collaboration among operators, regulators, government institutions, road maintenance agencies, and host communities.
He emphasised that strict adherence to NCC deployment standards remains essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Representing ipNX on the panel discussion titled “Policy, Governance and Regulatory Alignment,” Mr. Segun Okuneye, Deputy Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, highlighted the need for stronger collaboration across the telecommunications ecosystem to unlock the full potential of fibre broadband in Nigeria.
According to him, sustainable fibre deployment extends beyond technology and investment to include policy consistency, stakeholder alignment, infrastructure protection, and shared responsibility.
“Achieving universal fibre connectivity requires more than deploying infrastructure, it requires sustained collaboration between operators, regulators, government agencies and host communities.
“When policies are aligned, deployment standards are consistently enforced, and critical infrastructure is protected, we create an environment where investment thrives and more Nigerians can enjoy reliable, high-speed broadband.
“At ipNX, we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to build resilient digital infrastructure that will support Nigeria’s economic growth for generations to come.”
Throughout the discussions, participants agreed that while Nigeria has made considerable progress in broadband expansion, addressing recurring issues such as fibre vandalism, right-of-way challenges, inconsistent deployment practices, infrastructure duplication, and limited public awareness will require stronger partnerships and coordinated industry action.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to strengthen industry standards, encourage infrastructure sharing, improve policy implementation, and promote greater public appreciation of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national assets deserving of protection.
For ipNX, participation in the ATCON Critical Conversation Forum reinforces our company’s ongoing commitment to supporting industry-wide initiatives that advance broadband penetration, strengthen digital infrastructure, and accelerate Nigeria’s journey towards a more connected and digitally inclusive future.
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