In a strategic move to bolster youth empowerment and reduce unemployment, over 50 young Nigerians have commenced intensive training in telecommunications technology, including operations, installation, maintenance, and equipment deployment.
The pilot initiative, a collaboration between the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and civil society organization Grassroots Bridge Builders, is designed to equip participants with industry-relevant skills to promote self-reliance and contribute to Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
Speaking at the launch of the Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Project in Abuja, the Director General of NASRDA, Dr. Mathew Adepoju, emphasized the programme’s relevance in addressing the acute shortage of skilled professionals in the telecommunications sector.
“This initiative focuses on microwave communication and telecom infrastructure skills, crucial for tapping into Africa’s largest telecommunications market,” Dr. Adepoju said. “With government support under the Renewed Hope Agenda and leadership from the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, we are confident that this project will translate the aspirations of Nigerian youth into tangible outcomes.”
Echoing the DG’s remarks, Mr. Ibrahim Igoche, CEO of Grassroots Bridge Builders, said the programme aims to tackle persistent technical downtimes in the telecom sector by nurturing a new generation of skilled workers.
“This is our way of giving back to Nigeria,” Igoche noted. “We want to redirect young people from negative influences toward productivity. Beyond the training, we plan to partner with telecom companies to provide participants with practical, on-the-job experience, making them job-ready.”
Participants, selected for their foundational knowledge in telecom-related fields, will undergo the two-week training programme as a stepping stone to professional engagement.
The initiative signals a growing partnership between government agencies and civil society organizations in creating sustainable pathways for youth development in Nigeria.
