Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth Development, is set to partner with Google in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian youth and expanding access to global and local opportunities.
The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, announced this collaboration during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Google, led by the Head of Value Education, Tanya Singh, 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 organizations to rise to the occasion. This collaboration is a step toward realizing the vision of one youth, two skills under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.”
He further highlighted the Ministry’s ongoing collaborations with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other relevant agencies to promote youth advancement through technology.
In her remarks, Tanya Singh explained that the partnership stemmed from a recent meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Google’s CEO in France. She outlined five core areas of collaboration:
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 said.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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 emphasized the need for sustained investment in skills development:
“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 stating that Google will make strategic investments in establishing a Digital Youth Academy, expanding digital literacy programs, and introducing key Google initiatives in Nigeria.
