The International Finance Corporation (IFC), says over 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa  will require digital skills by 2030.

This is expected to create nearly 650 million training opportunities.

This summarizes the urgency with which countries like Nigeria requires to bridge digital skills gap.

Apparently in a move to create thousands of job opportunities within and outside Nigeria, the Digital Bridge Institute, DBI  has entered into partnership with a United States-based SBTS Group LLC to equip Nigerian youths with the needed digital skills for global competitiveness.

The partnership is essentially designed to address the nation’s digital divide, digital literacy deficit and drive job creation 

Described as a milestone for Nigeria’s digital future, the  collaboration would leverage the SBTS Group’s Intelligent Capacity Building Model (ICBM), and the DBI’s reputation as Nigeria’s premier ICT capacity-building institute to provide training, infrastructure upgrades, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hubs across DBI campuses. 

These initiatives will empower millions of Nigerians with globally competitive hands-on skills and enhance the country’s participation in the global digital economy.

The partnership would focus on skills development and employment, which would involve training of thousands of Nigerians in advanced digital and technical skills; providing job placements locally and internationally for trained individuals; and developing a robust pipeline of skilled professionals to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap.

It would also focus on infrastructure upgrades and resource centers, with establishment of BPO hubs and tech resource centers in Lagos, Enugu, Kano, and other DBI campuses. More importantly, the initiative would provide a campus-learning experience for the trainees.

According to the President/CEO of DBI, Daser David, the partnership would boost Nigeria’s role in the global outsourcing market by creating high-value job opportunities.

The DBI President emphasized that the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, prioritizing human capital development, job creation, and socio-economic transformation, adding that the efforts would definitely accelerate the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Besides, he said the partnership would support the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, spearheaded by the Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani; to position Nigeria as a leading exporter of digital talent.

While highlighting the DBI’s dedication to bridging Nigeria’s digital divide, David said: “Our partnership with SBTS aligns with our mission to foster digital skills and transform lives. By integrating Nigeria’s youth into the global technological workforce, we are laying the foundation for a thriving digital economy.”

The CEO of SBTS Group, Evelyn Lewis, also emphasized the partnership’s urgency in launching Nigeria to the global digital space for the millions of Nigerian youth to take advantage.

He said; “Africa’s digital skills gap is a barrier to growth. By collaborating with DBI, we aim to close this gap, create jobs, and accelerate technology adoption, boosting productivity across sectors.”

As Africa’s largest economy with a burgeoning youth population, Nigeria is positioned to take a leading role in this digital transformation of the continent.

David explained further that many of these opportunities will require intermediate and advanced technical skills, beyond basic digital literacy; adding that the DBI-SBTS collaboration directly addresses these challenges by creating a sustainable framework for skill development.

Already, the renovation and upgrades have commenced at DBI campuses, beginning with Enugu and Kano, with plans to extend nationwide. These improvements will create state-of-the-art facilities for delivering cutting-edge training programs.

The partnership will also implement the ICBM framework, enabling DBI to offer advanced digital skills training, support the establishment of BPO centers, and create an ecosystem for innovation and growth.

David hinted that the initiative is basically to empowering Nigeria’s Youth and the Economy: He said: “This collaboration is a game-changer for Nigeria’s economy. By equipping job seekers with digital skills, the initiative enhances their employability and contributes to national development. The integration of digital talent into various sectors is expected to spur innovation, attract investments, and position Nigeria as a global hub for skilled digital professionals.”