Add us on Google
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has concluded a digital skills training programme for 60 youths drawn from Nigeria’s North Central and South-West zones, in a move aimed at closing critical skills gaps and improving youth employability in the country’s evolving digital economy.
The training forms part of the Board’s broader human capital development strategy targeted at equipping young Nigerians with practical competencies relevant to both the oil and gas sector and the wider technology-driven labour market.
Programme targets workforce readiness
Speaking at separate closing ceremonies held in Abuja and Lagos, NCDMB Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the initiative aligns with the agency’s statutory mandate to deepen local capacity development across strategic sectors of the economy.
According to him, the programme was designed to prepare Nigerian youths for the realities of a rapidly expanding digital world, where technical competence is becoming increasingly essential.
“The programme was carefully designed to deliver practical, market-relevant skills that can be immediately translated into jobs and business opportunities,” Ogbe said.
He added that beneficiaries are expected to become productive contributors to national development by leveraging the skills acquired under the government-backed intervention.
Ogbe, who was represented by NCDMB’s Acting Manager, Research and Development, Jonathan Njoku, noted that persistent shortages in skilled digital labour influenced the Board’s decision to prioritise technology-focused training.
Participants receive industry-recognised certifications
Njoku disclosed that participants were selected from across the two geopolitical zones and were issued industry-recognised certifications upon completion of the programme, improving their competitiveness in both employment and entrepreneurial pursuits.
He also commended the training partners engaged by the Board for delivering measurable value during the programme.
For the North Central zone, the training was facilitated by Pyrich Limited. Its Group Managing Director, Maryanne Kooda, said the initiative combined structured classroom learning with practical industry exposure.
According to her, the six-week intensive training phase was followed by a two-week internship during which participants worked on live company projects.
“This hands-on approach helped them understand how digital tools function in actual workplace settings,” she explained.
Curriculum covers AI, cloud computing, project management
Kooda said the curriculum was tailored to reflect modern workplace demands and included modules on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, workplace communication tools, project management platforms, and Artificial Intelligence applications.
A representative of FOZY Global Concepts, which handled part of the training delivery, said participants also received instruction in cloud computing, machine learning, customer care management, knowledge management, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The representative added that participants were also placed in on-the-job training roles, with several attached to the Digital Bridge Institute for practical exposure.
Beneficiaries highlight impact
One of the beneficiaries, Ene Michael, said the programme significantly improved her productivity, especially in the use of AI tools for writing-related tasks.
Another participant, Umar Zakari from Niger State, said the training expanded his problem-solving abilities in cloud computing and knowledge management.
According to him, the experience has strengthened his confidence and demonstrated how digital skills can be applied to solve everyday challenges while creating economic opportunities.
The initiative underscores NCDMB’s continuing investment in digital literacy as part of its local content development agenda, aimed at positioning Nigerian youths for greater participation in the country’s growing knowledge economy.
