Nigeria stands on the brink of a massive economic opportunity, one that could generate more than $15 billion annually by 2030, if the country accelerates investments in digital literacy and technological competence among its rapidly growing youth population.
This was the key message at a two-day media dialogue organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Information in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The dialogue brought together journalists, education specialists, and policy actors to explore how the media can help reshape national conversations around digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and the future of work. It comes at a time when global shifts are redefining employment demands and widening the skills gap in countries with large young populations.
In her opening remarks, Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, described Nigeria’s digital and educational landscape as both a warning and an opportunity. She revealed that over 10 million primary school children and another 18 million junior and secondary school students are currently out of school.
“That means more than 18 million Nigerian youths lack both basic schooling and digital capability,” she said. “Fifteen out of every hundred girls are not in school, not in training, and not in employment.”
Lafoucriere noted that by 2030, Nigeria will have approximately 126 million children and adolescents, a youth population larger than that of any other African nation. Whether this becomes Nigeria’s greatest asset or its biggest liability depends on how quickly the country equips young people with digital and future-ready skills.
“The difference lies in whether we prepare them for the world ahead. The good news is that progress is happening,” she added, pointing out that more than two million children and youths across 21 states, including 300,000 in the Southwest are already using the Nigerian Learning Passport. Over 62,000 girls and young women have completed digital skills courses, with the federal government showing commitment through its national skills development policy.
She urged the media to step into a more active advocacy role, spotlighting success stories, debunking myths about technology being reserved for the privileged, and pushing leaders to invest in accessible, inclusive digital learning.
“This is where you are essential,” she said. “Use your voice and platforms to ensure that every Nigerian child, urban or rural, rich or poor, gets the digital skills they need to compete globally.”
For UNICEF Education Specialist Babagana Aminu, Nigeria’s situation must be understood within the broader continental context. He revealed that the global digital skills market is currently valued at $130 billion, reflecting the scale of economic possibilities the country risks missing.
He stressed that Africa must create 68 million new jobs by 2030, and Nigeria alone accounts for one-quarter of that burden, making digital competence not just an option but a national survival strategy.
“The employment market is rapidly evolving, and traditional education systems are not keeping up,” Aminu said. “Eighty-five percent of Nigerians remain unemployed or underemployed because they lack the digital competence required to function optimally in the modern workplace.”
He explained that Nigeria’s Generation Z, today’s teenagers and young adults, are already digital natives whose potential must be nurtured, regulated, and guided rather than restricted.
“The media must help parents and teachers understand their roles in guiding digital usage while also holding government accountable for bridging the digital divide,” he said.
Aminu also highlighted the transformative opportunities associated with artificial intelligence, noting that Nigeria ranks among Africa’s leading creators of AI-related jobs. To sustain this momentum, he emphasised the need for expansive, coordinated investment in digital skills training and policy alignment.
He also pointed to innovative platforms helping young Nigerians gain digital competence, including YOMA, the Nigerian Learning Passport, GenU 9ja, and various Microsoft-led initiatives.
Officials from the Oyo State Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, and the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) also underscored the importance of collaboration in accelerating Nigeria’s digital transition.
The Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Information, Rotimi Babalola, stressed that digitising education is no longer optional but a national priority that demands cooperation from all sectors, government, private sector, and the media.
Mr. Martins Opeyemi, Director of Planning and Policy at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, added that the gains recorded so far must be scaled in a sustainable manner. Representatives from Lagos SUBEB echoed similar sentiments, advocating for a unified approach to improving digital learning outcomes.
The dialogue also featured inspiring testimonies from teachers and students of Army Children’s Senior School, Epe, who shared their personal experiences with digital learning platforms. They illustrated how tools like the Nigerian Learning Passport have improved learning speed, enhanced creativity, and opened up exposure to global knowledge resources.
Their accounts reinforced the importance of providing students, not just in urban centres but in underserved communities with devices, connectivity, and ongoing digital mentorship.
If Nigeria taps fully into the $130B digital skills market and invests aggressively in youth capacity-building, it could generate more than $15B in internal revenue by 2030, lifting millions out of poverty and positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in the future of work.
