By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Denam Charity Foundation has trained 40 secondary school graduates in digital and creative skills under its ‘Learn and Earn’ initiative, aimed at preparing young Nigerians for economic opportunities in the digital economy.

The training held at Government Day Secondary School, Duste Alhaji, Abuja, forms part of the Foundation’s broader effort to empower young people through education, skills acquisition and community development.

Speaking at the event, the Architect and Project Coordinator, Denam Group, Oyebode Afis, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between secondary education and higher learning by equipping school leavers with practical skills they can use to earn income while pursuing their studies.

According to Afis, the Foundation deliberately focuses on recent secondary school graduates because many of them have time before gaining admission into tertiary institutions.

He said: “The ‘Learn and Earn’ project is one of our charity foundation initiatives. We are looking at skills acquisition for students leaving secondary school and preparing for university so they can be equipped for the future and also earn while they learn.”

According to him, the programme focuses on digital skills that are accessible with smartphones, enabling participants to begin freelancing or offering digital services without requiring expensive equipment or office space.

The participants received practical training in Canva design, CapCut video editing, ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence applications, content creation and other digital tools that are increasingly in demand in today’s digital economy.

Responding to concerns about whether trainees would be able to utilise the skills after the programme, he said the Foundation deliberately selected practical and marketable skills that students could immediately apply.

“The skills we teach are digital-friendly and can be practised using mobile phones. We have trained them on Canva, CapCut, AI tools, content creation and digital design. These are skills they can use independently to generate income even while in school”, he said.

He also disclosed that the Foundation had adopted a phased empowerment approach rather than repeating the same programme annually.

According to him, the Foundation’s first intervention focused on educational scholarships, while the current phase centres on digital skills development.

The next phase, he revealed, will be dedicated to community health outreach, including the provision of medical care and essential drugs to underserved communities.

He (Afis) noted that 30 students had earlier benefited from the Foundation’s scholarship programme, while 40 students completed the digital skills training, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 70 since the initiative began.

Meanwhile, he called on government to strengthen investment in technology-driven education by expanding digital learning infrastructure in primary and secondary schools.

“There have been improvements, but government can still do more, especially in digitising our primary and secondary school education so that young people are better prepared for the future”, he added.

In his remarks, Chairman of Denam Group, Dr. Linus Igwemezie, said the Foundation established the ‘Learn and Earn’ initiative to provide young Nigerians with practical skills capable of creating economic opportunities and reducing youth unemployment.

Igwemezie also said the programme reflects the organisation’s commitment to empowering young people through education and innovation.

“The vision behind ‘Learn and Earn’ is simple but powerful—to equip young people with practical skills that enable them to create opportunities, become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to society. At Denam Group, we believe empowering people is one of the greatest investments we can make”, he said.

He expressed appreciation to the management of Government Day Secondary School, Duste Alhaji, facilitators, volunteers, parents and partners whose support contributed to the success of the programme.

He also congratulated the students for their dedication and willingness to embrace new learning opportunities.

In her remarks, Kate Tijani encouraged the participants to continuously develop the skills acquired during the training, stressing that consistency, creativity and continuous learning would position them for success in the evolving digital economy.

The event featured project presentations, reviews of participants’ learning experiences and the presentation of certificates to beneficiaries, as the foundation reaffirmed its commitment to expanding educational, health and empowerment interventions across communities.