‘Equipping Nigerian youths with digital skills will boost economy’

The Chairman of S Mobile Group, Kingsley Adonu, has emphasised the crucial need to equip Nigerian youth with digital skills to harness the growth potential of the Nigerian digital economy, especially in the southeast.

Adonu said that the burgeoning digital sector presents a significant opportunity to tackle the pressing issue of youth unemployment while propelling economic advancement in the region.

While millions of jobs requiring advanced digital skills will be created in the coming decade, reports suggest a shortfall of skilled workers to fill these jobs, Adonu said in a statement.

He said while young people are often considered “digital natives”, the reality is that the majority do not possess job-relevant digital skills required for the present and future workplace.

The entrepreneur, who recently ventured into tech hub development in Enugu, expressed his readiness to work with relevant authorities in the zone to discourage youths from engaging in crime.

He stated, “The digital economy is rapidly transforming the employment landscape across industries, including financial services, health, entertainment, transportation, entertainment, energy, governance, and of course, information and communication technologies.

“Millions of jobs requiring advanced digital skills will be created in the coming decade, but many reports are projecting a shortfall of skilled workers to fill these jobs.

“While young people are often considered “digital natives”, the reality is that the majority do not possess job-relevant digital skills. In particular, jobs requiring coding and other advanced ICT skills are going unfilled.”

The chairman said the company was set to address the issues through S Mobile Tech Hub, adding that the platform would lend support to the vision of the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah.

According to him, the governor has a vision to fight poverty by empowering youths relevant digital skills.

He said that the goal was to equip five million young people with digital skills in the Southeast starting with Enugu – both basic and advanced – by 2030.

Adonu said this would be achieved by mainstreaming digital skills into S Mobile Tech Hub’s curricula, establishing comprehensive on-the-job training systems and mobilizing job creators in the public and private sector to employ young people in digital-centric jobs.

“There will also be a strong focus on fostering youth-led digital entrepreneurship in Southeast Nigeria,” he said.