To bridge the digital skills gap and create employment opportunities across the federation, the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) and the Small Business Training Solutions (SBTS) have launched what they term an ambitious and transformative partnership aimed at empowering Nigerian youth in digital knowledge.

The Media Awareness for the launch of the DBI-SBTS partnership took place recently at the Abuja Headquarters of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), where stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as well as Telecommunication industries, gathered to give birth to an initiative that would significantly shape the digital space and provide job opportunities for millions of Nigerians locally and internationally.

According to the President/CEO of DBI, David Daser, the partnership being launched underscored the urgent need to equip young Nigerians with practical digital skills that will position them as job creators rather than job seekers.

Daser pointed out that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the 3MTT program of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, adding that the partnership was a strategic response to the growing need and huge demand for skilled digital professionals capable of driving Nigeria’s digital economy forward.

The DBI President said: “For years, the DBI has been at the forefront of ICT and telecommunications training, producing skilled professionals across industries. However, we recognize that greater impact requires collaboration. This partnership with SBTS is not just a milestone, it is a game changer.”

He emphasized the commitment of DBI to providing high-quality training in digital marketing, software development, cybersecurity, and business management, ensuring that Nigerian youth remain competitive in the global market.

The DBI boss also stated that the initiative will incorporate mentorship, access to funding, and business incubation support while offering a holistic approach to job creation.

He, therefore, called on stakeholders, government agencies, and private sector leaders to support the initiative and make youth empowerment a national priority, adding, “Together, we can build an ecosystem where innovation thrives, businesses flourish, and our youth are equipped to excel in the 21st-century economy.”

In his address, the SBTS CEO, Mr. Evelyn Lewis, stated that the SBTS, with over two decades of expertise in education, technology, and business process outsourcing, brings a global perspective to the new initiative.

The partnership, according to him, will create globally competitive training programs that are practical, hands-on, and industry-driven; adding that it would ensure that the graduates will transit seamlessly into employment or entrepreneurship.

Mr. Evelyn Lewis described the partnership as a bold commitment to capacity building, digital education, and job creation, noting that despite Africa’s vast talent pool, access to structured and scalable training programs remains a challenge. “This is the gap we are here to fill,” he emphasised.

He stated that a key feature of the initiative is the Intelligent Capacity Building Model (ICBM), which is pioneered by SBTS, adding that ICBM goes beyond traditional training by integrating financial support, mentorship, job placement, and continuous professional development.

Through this approach, he said the DBI-SBTS collaboration is aimed at generating 100,000 new digital jobs across Africa within the next five years, with 50,000 of them to come from Nigeria.

He said, “Education must not be confined to physical classrooms. Through modern learning platforms, distance learning, and micro-credentials, we will ensure that every willing learner, no matter where they are, can access quality digital education.”

The initiative comes at a time when Nigeria’s youth unemployment rate remains a pressing concern. Experts have long advocated for a shift from conventional education to skills-based learning that meets industry demands. The DBI-SBTS collaboration presents a solution by aligning training with employer needs, linking participants to job opportunities, and supporting startups with necessary resources.

With the backing of government agencies and the private sector, the initiative has the potential to catalyze economic transformation by equipping Nigeria’s youthful population with the tools needed to thrive in the digital space. Media professionals at the launch were urged to amplify the initiative’s impact, ensuring that young Nigerians are aware of the life-changing opportunities ahead.

The program is also expected to enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy by producing a workforce skilled in emerging technologies. As digital innovation continues to reshape industries worldwide, initiatives like this provide a pathway for Nigeria to position itself as a leader in the global tech ecosystem.

Beyond job creation, the partnership aims to foster an entrepreneurial culture where trained individuals can establish their own businesses and, in turn, create employment opportunities for others. This aligns with the broader goal of achieving economic self-sufficiency and reducing dependency on traditional employment sectors.

The DBI-SBTS partnership is more than an educational collaboration; it is a movement to empower a generation with the skills and opportunities necessary to drive Africa’s digital future. As Daser and Lewis emphasized, this initiative is not just about training, it is about transforming lives, unlocking potential, and shaping the future of Nigeria’s digital economy.

In his welcome address, the Head of Public Affairs, DBI, Mr. Akin Ogunlade, said the formal launch of DBI-SBTS launch was to further create a platform for ease of doing business in a digital age, while the Media launch was used as a catalyst for deeper awareness creation of the activities, goals, and successes of the two partners.

Ogunlade pointed out that at DBI, the mandate has always been to provide top-tier ICT and Telecom training, equipping individuals with the skills required to thrive in the digital age. He said: “Over the years, we have remained committed to bridging the knowledge gap, ensuring that the youth of our nation are not left behind in the ever-evolving technological landscape.

“As we embark on this journey, I urge all stakeholders, government agencies, private sector leaders, and the media to support, promote, and advocate for digital skills training as a key driver of national development.”

To ensure that no Nigerian or region is left behind, the DBI said it has started upgrading its branch offices in all the geo-political zones of Nigeria, in readiness for the take-off of the initiative.