By Victor Ahiuma-Young, ABUJA

The Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, and a United States, US based SBTS Group LLC, have signed an agreement that will create 50,000 immediate jobs and upskill no fewer than five million Nigerian youths by 2030.

A statement weekend by Head, DBI Public Affairs, Akin Ogunlade, said the groups had already announced the commencement of the official launch of the strategic partnership in Abuja February.

According to the statement , “the partnership is aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with essential digital skills to compete in the global job market as well as aligning with the Federal Government’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) and the 3 million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy under the
Minister, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

“The partnership, according to the President/CEO DBI, Mr. Daser David, seeks to up-skill over five million Nigerian youths by 2030, and create about 50,000 direct and indirect jobs within a short time. Nigerian youths are the catalyst for transforming our nation’s economic future. To pivot from an agriculture-dependent economy to a thriving digital landscape, they require targeted IT upskilling. This initiative bridges opportunity gaps by providing after-school programs in digital literacy and vocational training for underserved youth, empowering them to compete in a tech-driven job market and fuelling inclusive economic growth.

“The partnership between DBI and SBTS is a direct response to Nigeria’s digital skills deficit, focusing on job creation and economic empowerment. Each DBI campus will host a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) center, designed to create thousands of job opportunities for young Nigerians, enabling them to secure both local and remote employment in the global digital economy.

“On his part, the CEO of SBTS Group, Evelyn Lewis, stressed the company’s commitment to
empowering Nigerian youth, noting that “despite the negativity and sense of hopelessness often portrayed, there are abundant opportunities for youth in Nigeria. We are excited to collaborate with DBI in advancing the Federal Government’s agenda to train and equip unemployed youth with digital skills and comprehensive ICT knowledge, empowering them for a brighter future. “

Continuing, the statement said “The training will integrate digital skills into vocational education, establish comprehensive on-the-job training systems, and engage public and private sector employers in digital job creation. The initiative has already commenced with facility upgrades and training programmes at DBI’s Enugu and Kano campuses, with other locations scheduled for subsequent rollouts.

“Under the agreement, the SBTS Group will provide technical and financial support, ensuring that young Nigerians receive industry-relevant training that meets global standards. The initiative also emphasizes youth-led digital entrepreneurship, providing participants with the tools to launch and scale their own businesses in the digital space.

“By integrating over 400 new digital courses into training curricula and promoting hands-on learning, the DBI-SBTS partnership is set to drive economic diversification of Nigeria through ICT; while the initiative’s strong focus on digital entrepreneurship will further accelerate Nigeria’s transition into a tech-driven economy, ensuring sustainable job creation and long-term growth.

“With facility upgrades, BPO center rollouts, and nationwide training programs underway, this collaboration represents a landmark effort in positioning Nigeria’s youth for success in the global digital economy.”