Collaboration Between Nigeria and UAE to Empower Over 7 Million Youth with Digital Expertise and International Chances
Nigeria and UAE Partner to Empower Over Seven Million Youth with Digital Skills
The Nigerian government has formed a strategic partnership with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) as part of a broader collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to empower over seven million Nigerian youths with digital skills, entrepreneurship training, civic leadership, and global innovation exposure.
The partnership was sealed during a high-level delegation led by Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during his official visit to the UAE in July 2025. Sheraa, a prominent innovation hub in Sharjah, UAE, will collaborate with the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) to provide digital literacy, start-up incubation, and entrepreneurial education to Nigerian youth.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s government digital transformation agenda under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Agenda, aiming to position Nigerian youth as creators in the global digital economy rather than consumers. A key project under this collaboration is the National Digital Innovation Showcase, powered by GITEX Global, scheduled in Nigeria from September 1–4, 2025. This event will spotlight 300 promising Nigerian startups, offering them access to international markets and targeted support.
The collaboration also involves Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), reinforcing the country's digital ecosystem support. The objective of the partnership is to equip over seven million Nigerian youths with cutting-edge digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills, foster civic leadership and global exposure by connecting Nigerian youths to global innovation ecosystems, leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), business process outsourcing (BPO), and remote work to create new economic opportunities for Nigerian youths, and accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a knowledge-based economy by developing youth capacities to engage fully with the digital economy and innovation sectors.
Over 210,000 youths have already joined the NiYA program, gaining access to training and enterprise support via local Green House Centres established across all 774 Nigerian local government areas. The partnership with Sheraa is expected to significantly enhance the availability and quality of digital skills training, innovation incubation, and startup support for Nigerian youths, facilitating their participation in the global tech landscape.
The GITEX-powered innovation showcase offers a major global stage for Nigerian youth-led startups to gain visibility, funding, and market access, thereby catalyzing tech entrepreneurship growth within Nigeria. By aligning with Sheraa’s mission to nurture talent and innovation, the collaboration helps unlock the entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youth, preparing them to be future tech leaders domestically and internationally.
The World Bank and IFC jointly estimate that by 2030, 35-45% of jobs in Nigeria will require some degree of digital proficiency. The need for non-ICT intermediate digital capabilities is also significant, accounting for 23% of the demand for digital skills in Nigeria. The urgent need for large-scale digital skill development across all sectors in Nigeria is underscored by these estimates.
Strategic talks were held between Minister Olawande and His Excellency Omar Al Olama, UAE Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. Much of the digital skill demand in Nigeria will emerge outside core ICT roles, driven by broader business adoption of digital tools. Foundational digital skills will account for 70% of the demand, while 23% will focus on non-ICT intermediate capabilities.
In summary, the NiYA-Sheraa partnership is a landmark youth empowerment initiative that combines digital skills development, entrepreneurship, and global innovation engagement to transform Nigerian youth into active participants and leaders in the digital economy. This ongoing collaboration reflects Nigeria’s strategic commitment to youth-driven digital transformation supported by strong international partnerships with the UAE.
- The collaboration between the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) and Sheraa aims to establish a strong startup ecosystem, providing education-and-self-development resources in digital literacy, start-up incubation, and entrepreneurial education to empower Nigerian youth within the business sector.
- The National Digital Innovation Showcase, powered by GITEX Global, offers funding, visibility, and market access opportunities to 300 Nigerian startups, showcasing their innovation in technology and finance, positioning them as significant players in the global digital economy.
