Young advocates, partners to empower 15,000 youths with skills

Young Advocates for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future (YASIF Nigeria), alongside Emerging Communities and Little Gifted Hands Matter, has joined the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) and IBM to implement the second phase of the SkillsBuild programme under the Reskilling Revolution Africa (RRA) initiative, targeting 15,000 young Nigerians.

A statement jointly signed by Blessing Ewa, executive director and founder of YASIF Nigeria and other partners including International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), IBM SkillsBuild African Union, announced the rollout of the project

“IBM SkillsBuild is a global skills development platform aimed at expanding equitable access to digital, professional, and sustainability related competencies for young people and underserved groups, with a focus on employability, job readiness, and participation in the digital and green economies.

“In Africa, the programme is delivered through Reskilling Revolution Africa, implemented by IAVE in partnership with IBM and the African Union, and coordinated at country level through national civil society and volunteer partners.” The statement added

“The initiative provides labour market relevant learning pathways through a digital platform that enables self paced learning, tracks measurable progress, and awards internationally recognised IBM SkillsBuild digital credentials.

“Participants also receive facilitation, mentoring, and localised learner support. SkillsBuild is currently being implemented in several countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopia, with delivery adapted to local contexts while maintaining consistent quality standards”, the statement noted.

According to programme outcomes so far, tens of thousands of learners have been engaged across participating countries, with strong female participation, tens of thousands of learning hours recorded, and thousands earning IBM digital badges.

YASIF Nigeria is leading Phase 2 following the successful completion of the pilot phase, which recorded strong learner uptake, gender inclusion, and measurable skills outcomes.

The RRA pilot, launched in October 2024, aimed to engage 30,000 young Africans across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Nigeria exceeded its national target by enrolling 12,061 unique learners, largely drawn from unemployed and underemployed youth, including students in tertiary and technical institutions.

Female participation surpassed benchmarks, contributing to an overall outcome where nearly 60% of learners were women. Across the three pilot countries, participants logged almost 93,000 learning hours and earned close to 2,000 IBM SkillsBuild digital credentials.

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Building on this baseline, Phase 2 expands delivery in Nigeria over a 12 month period. YASIF Nigeria, working with Emerging Communities, Little Gifted Hands Matter, and other implementing partners, will coordinate enrolment of 15,000 young Nigerians, with at least 50 percent female participation.

Implementation will cover Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, and Niger State, ensuring wider geographic access. Learners will be onboarded weekly through a blended model combining online curriculum with in person facilitation, coaching, and peer support delivered by trained volunteers.

YASIF and partners will also collaborate with various government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the private sector, to strengthen programme outcomes.

Training pathways are informed by a national survey and aligned with labour market demand, focusing on climate change and the green economy, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, web development, project management, entrepreneurship, and sustainability related skills.

Nigeria is targeting at least 1,500 digital badges during Phase 2, representing a minimum of 10 percent of enrolled learners earning platform recognised credentials.

Beyond training, YASIF Nigeria and partners are implementing an employability and alumni support framework including career guidance, CV development, interview preparation, job placement partnerships, and entrepreneurship mentorship.

A national alumni network will be maintained to promote peer learning, collaboration, and continued access to employment and enterprise opportunities.

Volunteering remains central to the programme, with participants encouraged to apply newly acquired skills through community based activities and volunteer led initiatives, strengthening practical experience and inclusive development.

The SkillsBuild Phase of Reskilling Revolution Africa is expected to scale a proven youth skills development model in Nigeria while contributing to a broader continental effort to prepare young Africans for the digital and green
economies.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.