The World Bank, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Education, has pledged $10 million to equip Nigerian youths with essential skills for employment opportunities. Dr. Mistura Rufai, a World Bank Education Specialist, announced this initiative during a workshop in Abuja organized by the Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) project of the Ministry.
Dr. Rufai emphasized the importance of empowering Nigerian youths to bolster the country’s economic growth. The initiative, supported by 78 grantees, aims to train over 50,000 youths nationwide in digital skills. She highlighted the program’s comprehensive approach, catering to beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners.
“This facility aims to foster innovations in digital skills training across Nigeria,” Dr. Rufai explained. “The selection process is rigorous, involving expressions of interest, proposal evaluations, and collaboration with private sector experts to ensure impactful outcomes.”
Blessing Ogwu, the National Project Coordinator for IDEAS, underscored the program’s goal of providing every Nigerian child with learning opportunities and skills acquisition. She stressed the urgency of addressing unemployment among youths, emphasizing that the initiative aims to draw out-of-school youths away from the streets and into productive endeavors.
Prof. Ndem Ayara, the IGF Consultant, outlined the project’s structure as a Public/Private Partnership, where the public sector supports up to 80% of implementation costs, with the remaining 20% contributed by the private sector. This partnership model seeks to leverage both sectors’ strengths to maximize the project’s impact and sustainability.
In conclusion, the IDEAS project represents a concerted effort to empower Nigerian youths through skill acquisition, aiming to mitigate unemployment challenges and foster economic prosperity.
