In a bold stride toward preparing Nigeria’s youth for the digital future, NASCO Group harnessed the energy and ambition of over 800 young Nigerians aged 15 to 35. This dynamic initiative, part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, was held in Jos and streamed online on World Youth Skills Day 2025 under the banner: Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills
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Connecting Nigerian Youth to the Digital Revolution
The event welcomed a vibrant mix of 600 online participants alongside 200 in-person attendees, encompassing students, recent graduates, job seekers, tech fans, and aspiring entrepreneurs eager to broaden their professional toolkit. It offered a rare fusion of inspirational dialogue and hands-on training, all aimed at equipping Nigeria’s youth with future-ready capabilities.
Leadership Sets the Tone
Shehu Nyalun, Group General Manager of Administration at NASCO, kicked things off with an upbeat keynote, reflecting the company’s dedication to social growth.
“This capacity‑building workshop is our unique contribution to society. We are confident that it will add real value to all participants,” he said, saluting the energy and vision of the attendees, who he described as “true vision‑bearers of this initiative.”
His words resonated with a theme of investment in talent, not charity—an important distinction in how CSR initiatives are evolving in modern Nigeria.
Keeping Pace with Global Tech Shifts
Delivering the keynote address, Cletus Shurkuk, Plateau State’s Commissioner for Science and Technology, spoke earnestly about the shifting landscapes of the global labour market:
“In just three years, many jobs could be lost due to tech disruption. But the silver lining is that up to 90 million new roles are projected to emerge globally, particularly in countries investing in digital education.”
He expanded on this warning with a hopeful rallying call: Nigerian youth must not only adopt technology, they must learn to create with it. His speech struck a chord, underlining digital skills as essential passports to global competitiveness.
A Multidisciplinary Panel with a Clear Mission
The workshop brought together experts from technology, education, HR, and digital entrepreneurship. Their mission? To arm attendees with the knowledge to:
- Understand AI’s expanding role in health, agriculture, education, and business.
- Explore opportunities in emerging sectors like data science, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and smart agriculture—all of which demand digital expertise.
- Gain practical experience, walking away with skills they could apply immediately.
Attendees engaged actively, posing questions about career advancement, startup capital, and how to access valuable but often underpublicised free learning tools. The panel’s hands-on approach—and encouragement—was described as “eye-opening” and “a vital bridge to global competitiveness.”
Building Global-Scale Competencies
Crucial insights on the future of work were woven throughout the day. As more industries integrate automation and AI, preparing the youth to master rather than be mastered by tech has become urgent. NASCO’s programme provided a glimpse of that shift—embedding practical digital know-how within broader discussions of career and lifestyle.
From Insight to Implementation: Key Takeaways
1. Private Sector Meets Education:
NASCO’s initiative showcases how businesses can effectively supplement what public institutions sometimes struggle to offer, especially in tech-savvy spaces. Their leadership in this initiative sets a benchmark for future public–private partnerships aimed at digital upskilling.
2. Future-Proofing Careers:
From AI to cybersecurity to smart-agriculture innovations, the event underscored that tomorrow’s roles demand more than traditional degrees—they demand digital acumen. By offering direct access to emerging fields, NASCO positioned participants at a powerful intersection of opportunity.
3. A National Call-to-Action:
Speakers united around a shared message: Nigeria must mobilise across sectors to develop digital capabilities. Government, corporations, educators, and youth themselves must collaborate to avoid being spectators to the digital transformation already underway.
Participant Voices: Real Stories, Real Impact
Stephen Nwoye, who attended virtually, summarised the sentiment when he said the workshop was a “turning point.” He discovered a passion for digital marketing and left hopeful about starting his own freelance career. Stories like his exemplify the workshop’s downstream impact.
Looking Ahead: Can This Be Scaled?
NASCO’s one-day initiative stood out not just for its scale—800 participants—but also for its model. By blending keynote sessions, panel discussions, and interactive upskilling, it created a replicable framework: deliver staffing, ignite ideation, and foster networks in a single, dynamic format.
For real, lasting transformation:
- Follow-up matters: Beyond the day itself, sustained mentorship, online communities, and access to resources are vital.
- Partnerships are key: Scaling similar events nationwide requires other firms to join the movement.
- Regional adaptation: Themes can be tailored to local needs—agriculture in the North, fintech in Lagos, manufacturing in the South.
Final Thoughts: Digital Skills as a Path to Agency
World Youth Skills Day 2025 was a timely backdrop. But it was NASCO’s investment of time, resources, and expertise that propelled the message from abstract to action. As global roles evolve and Nigeria’s youth population grows, such programmes move from optional to essential.
In empowering these 800 entrants into the digital economy, NASCO didn’t just offer training—they extended opportunity, vision, and hope. In doing so, they charted a course other organisations would do well to follow.
For Nigerian youth, that road leads to upskilling—not just surviving the digital future, but thriving in it.
What Comes Next?
- Expand engagement: Additional editions in other states could multiply the impact.
- Create communities: Encourage ongoing collaboration among participants through mentorship bonds or online cohorts.
- Track outcomes: Gathering data on participants’ career or education progress would help refine future programmes, deepening value for everyone involved.
In Summary:
Nasco trains 800 youths in AI, digital skills across Nigeria—this was more than a workshop. It was a vision for the future, a message to government, business, and youth alike: the digital age is here, and equipped Nigerians must lead the charge.
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