By Michael Oche
In a move to create thousands of job opportunities within and outside Nigeria, the Digital Bridge Institute has entered into a transformative partnership with a United States based SBTS Group LLC to equip Nigerian youth with the needed digital skills for global competitiveness.
According to a statement by DBI head of public affairs, Akin Ogunlade, the partnership between the DBI and SBTS is essentially designed to address the nation’s digital divide, digital literacy deficit and drive job creation.
“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 statement noted.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), over 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, thus creating nearly 650 million training opportunities.
The statement quoted the President/CEO of DBI, Daser David, as saying that the partnership would boost Nigeria’s role in the global outsourcing market by creating high-value job opportunities.
He said, “The partnership would focus on skill 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 develop a robust pipeline of skilled professionals to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap.”
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.
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.”
