The Nigerian Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, is set to collaborate with Google in a landmark initiative designed to empower Nigerian youth and broaden access to both local and international opportunities.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Google, led by Tanya Singh, Head of Value Education, at his office in Abuja.
According to the Minister, “This partnership with Google has become necessary to create meaningful impact for our youth. Relying solely on government funding may not be sufficient, which is why we are calling on NGOs and other organisations to rise to the occasion. This collaboration is a step toward realising the vision of one youth, two skills under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.”
He added that the Ministry is already working with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other relevant bodies to drive youth development through technology.
Speaking on behalf of Google, Tanya Singh explained that the partnership followed a recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google’s CEO in France. She outlined five key areas of collaboration:
1. Building Digital Infrastructure:
“We’re focused on creating technology infrastructure that supports the government, businesses, and individuals in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation. Foundational to this is strong AI and tech infrastructure,” she noted.
2. Human Capacity Development:
“Nigeria’s youth population presents a powerful opportunity. By investing in digital skills and tools for upskilling, we are collectively enabling the country’s future growth.”
3. Economic Diversification:
“Beyond oil and financial services, we see immense potential in fintech, agri-tech, and health-tech. Our goal is to create an enabling environment for these sectors to thrive both locally and globally.”
4. SME Support and Entrepreneurship:
“Small and medium enterprises are at the heart of youth innovation. Many young Nigerians are building the businesses of the future. We aim to provide them with the tools and support to scale and compete globally.”
5. Positioning Nigeria as a Global Talent Hub:
“Initially, we asked how Nigeria could become the AI and tech talent hub of Central Africa. But we’ve revised that goal — why not position Nigeria as a global leader? We want to showcase Nigerian talent on the world stage and ensure young people have the skills to meet global demands.”
Singh stressed the importance of sustained investment in skill-building:
“Across all five pillars, one truth stands out, we must invest in talent. Youths need not only skills but the ability to apply them in real-world contexts, whether in jobs or entrepreneurship.”
She concluded by announcing Google’s plans to make strategic investments towards launching a Digital Youth Academy, expanding digital literacy initiatives, and rolling out key Google programmes across Nigeria.
