Metro
NOMA Raises Alarm over Dearth of ICT Skills Among Nigerian Youths
As the world marks World Youth Skills Day on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, with the theme “Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” the Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has called for a nationwide action aimed at tackling Nigeria’s youth digital skills deficit.
In a statement signed by NOMA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Association, Theresa Moses, urged governments at all levels, corporate organizations, development partners, academic institutions, civil society, and the media to prioritize investments in digital learning, artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, and equitable access to ICT resources for Nigerian youth.
“We are sitting on a ticking time bomb if we continue to ignore the urgent need for AI and digital empowerment among our youth. This is no longer optional — it is a national emergency,” Moses warned.
Nigeria youth population, with nearly 60% of the total population, faces significant barriers to digital inclusion. According to recent statistics: Only 36% of Nigerians currently use the internet and insignificant 7% of youth possess basic ICT skills.
It also revealed: Only 15% have advanced digital competencies, and a staggering 31% of Nigerian youth are not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
This growing divide is particularly intriguing as the global economy rapidly shifts toward automation, green innovation, remote work, and AI-driven industries.
“With AI already transforming industries worldwide, Nigeria risks being left behind unless urgent, coordinated efforts are made to close the digital skills gap,” Moses added.
Media Advocacy, Real Stories, and Youth Voices
To commemorate this year’s World Youth Skills Day, NOMA and its media partners are launching a week-long advocacy campaign spotlighting young Nigerians who are applying AI and digital skills to create change in their communities. The campaign will also feature subject matter experts in digital learning and innovation, who will share insights on challenges and opportunities in the digital economy.
Moses emphasized the importance of amplifying youth voices, promoting positive success stories, and shaping policies and investments that create pathways to meaningful digital inclusion.
A National Call to Action
NOMA is urging key sectors of society to step up: Federal, State, and Local Governments to Strengthen digital education policies, scale programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, and integrate AI and ICT training into both formal and informal education systems.
Corporate Organizations: Support youth-focused innovation hubs, provide mentorship, and invest in digital internship and apprenticeship schemes.
Development Partners and Donors: Prioritize funding for technology-driven education and youth digital inclusion projects.
Academic Institutions: Embed digital literacy, AI, and emerging technologies into school curricula at all levels.
Media and Content Creators: Use storytelling platforms to promote awareness and inspire action through compelling narratives on digital transformation and youth empowerment.
“If we want inclusive economic growth, then AI and digital literacy must be recognized as a basic right — not a privilege,” Moses said.
“Let this year’s World Youth Skills Day be the turning point. Together, let’s ensure Nigeria’s youth are truly WorkLifeReady.”
Globacom has entered into a strategic partnership with the Osun State Government to roll out 20,000 closed user group (CUG) lines for civil servants, teachers, local government staff and political appointees across the state.
The initiative, branded Imole Connect, is designed to foster seamless communication and collaboration among government workers, thereby improving efficiency and productivity.
Speaking at the official launch in Osogbo on Wednesday, Governor Ademola Adeleke commended Globacom for supporting the state’s digital drive. He described the project as a crucial step towards bridging communication gaps in the public sector.
“With the launch of 20,000 Glo Imole Connect lines today, we are taking a bold step towards improving our public servants’ linkage across the State. These lines, operating under a closed user group (CUG) arrangement, come with significantly reduced call and data rates,” Governor Adeleke noted.
He further explained that, “one of the challenges in public governance has always been the difficulty of seamless communication. Information does not always move quickly or efficiently and this has often led to avoidable delays and disconnections between agencies and officers across different levels. With this new arrangement, I am confident that we will begin to close those gaps and work in closer alignment.”
On his part, Globacom’s National Head, Enterprise Business Group, Mr. Adeniyi Odejobi, assured that the company was committed to enhancing service delivery in Osun State through efficient communication.
“Globacom has transformed from being just a telecommunications company to being a digital solutions provider where we offer enterprise solutions to large organisations, government and public sector organisations to enhance digital economy and enhance the operations of smart cities in some sub nationals,” he explained.
Desirous of promoting the love for sciences and pursuit of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), the Glo Foundation, Globacom’s corporate social responsibility arm, is staking millions of naira to promote STEM among girls across the country.
This is part of its programme for the celebration of this year’s edition of the International Day of the Girl Child.
The Foundation has put in place the ‘Glo Innov8’ National STEM Competition for girls in Senior Secondary Schools across the country. The competition, a STEM-focused challenge, will see the winning schools carting home N5 million in prizes.
A statement from Glo Foundation explained that the ‘Glo Innov8’ National STEM Competition is aimed at enabling girls in secondary schools to “Compete, Innovate and Win” in the competition and also enhance the confidence and knowledge of the girl child.
It also added that the competition “is our modest way at Glo Foundation of celebrating and encouraging the girl child to focus more on the studies of STEM subjects and pursue careers in these areas in future so as to become problem solvers for the country”.
The overall winning school with the best idea walks away with N2,000,000 prize, while the 2 Students who will represent the school will get a laptop each, and the Teacher/Mentor/STEM Coordinator gets a token of N200,000. The students of the schools that come 2nd and 3rd, as well as the Teachers/Mentors/STEM Coordinators will also get consolation prizes.
The registration for the Glo Foundation National Stem Competition tagged “Glo Innov8”, which kicked off on the Monday September 15th, will end on October 5, 2025.
To register for a chance to win, all that schools across Nigeria have to do is visit https://glo-foundation.com/glo-innov8/ and fill the form, to STEM their way to N5,000,000.
Adron Homes and Properties Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading real estate companies, has reaffirmed its commitment to cultural preservation and community development by officially supporting the 2025 Olojo Festival themed “Tourism for Inclusive Growth with Cultural Rebirth.”
In a press conference held at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, the firm highlighted the festival’s enduring significance as a symbol of Yoruba heritage and a catalyst for economic and social development.
Representing the Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the Managing Director of Adron Group, Mrs. Adenike Ajobo, described the Olojo Festival as “more than a cultural gathering, a living heritage that connects the Yoruba civilization to the global stage, strengthening local economies, uniting people, and inspiring generational pride.”
She noted that Adron Group’s sponsorship aligns with its mission to build communities that honour tradition while creating sustainable opportunities.
“Tourism and housing share a common purpose which connects people, places, and possibilities. At Adron, we believe that true development must respect heritage while driving progress for future generations. Supporting Olojo Festival reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and cultural rebirth,” she stated.
The Olojo Festival, recognised as one of Africa’s foremost cultural events, continues to attract international attention while reinforcing Ile-Ife’s status as the cradle of Yoruba civilization. With the support of organisations like Adron Group, the festival is expected to further project Nigeria’s culture globally, boost tourism, and inspire unity across communities.
Adron Group extended prayers for the continued reign of His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ojaja II, and expressed optimism that the 2025 Olojo Festival would be peaceful, impactful, and a beacon of pride for Yorubaland, Osun State, and Nigeria at large.
