Nigeria Risks Losing Digital Advantage Without Early Skills Investment, Expert Warns

Nigeria risks losing the economic advantage presented by its large youthful population if it fails to invest early in digital skills such as coding, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, data analytics and cybersecurity, technology experts have warned.

The experts said the long summer holiday provides an opportunity for parents to expose their children to practical technology skills that could complement conventional classroom education and prepare them for the demands of the digital economy.

Senior Systems Analyst, Esther Folorunso, said parents should look beyond conventional holiday classes and use the break to expose their children to practical skills that can strengthen Nigeria’s future workforce.

“We are raising children for a world that is becoming increasingly digital. Academic knowledge remains extremely important, but young people also need opportunities to apply knowledge, solve problems, build things and become comfortable with technology,” she said.

Folorunso said well-structured information technology bootcamps could expose children to coding, data analytics, cybersecurity, AI, UI/UX design, robotics and other emerging technologies, while also developing problem-solving, creativity, collaboration and critical-thinking skills.

“A child who spends a few weeks learning Python, building a simple website, analysing data or understanding how artificial intelligence works may discover an interest or ability that would otherwise remain unexplored for years,” she said.

According to her, the objective should not be to replace formal education with technology but to complement academic learning with practical exposure.

“So the goal should not be to replace education with technology, but to complement academic education with practical exposure. When children have both, we begin to raise young people who are not only prepared to pass examinations, but are also equipped to create, innovate and participate meaningfully in the economy of the future,” she said.

Folorunso said Nigeria’s large youth population remained a major advantage, but warned that demographics alone would not create the skilled workforce required to compete in the global digital economy.

“We have to deliberately convert that demographic advantage into skills, productivity and innovation. I believe one of the most important steps is to strengthen the connection between education, skills development and industry needs,” she said.

She called for digital skills to be introduced much earlier in the education system, with greater emphasis on teaching students how to build, analyse, solve problems and create with technology, rather than merely use digital devices.

She also advocated stronger collaboration among government, schools, universities, technology companies and professional organisations to ensure that digital training reflects actual industry requirements.

“Employers should have a voice in identifying the skills that are actually needed in the marketplace, while educational institutions and training providers should help develop those competencies,” she said.

The technology expert stressed that practical experience must form a critical part of Nigeria’s digital talent development strategy, arguing that certificates alone would not produce an employable workforce.

“We cannot build a strong digital workforce through certificates alone. Young Nigerians need internships, bootcamps, mentorship, apprenticeships, hackathons and opportunities to work on real-world projects,” Folorunso said.

“Someone learning data analytics, for example, should have opportunities to work with actual datasets and business problems. Someone learning software development should graduate from training having actually built solutions.”

She further urged the government and private sector to expand access to digital learning beyond Lagos and Abuja, stressing that location should not determine whether young Nigerians can participate in the digital economy.

“Investment in broadband infrastructure, digital learning platforms, community technology hubs and affordable access to devices can help democratise opportunity,” she said.

Folorunso said Nigeria should begin to treat digital talent as an economic asset rather than merely an educational outcome.

“If we deliberately develop skills in areas such as software engineering, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, we are not only preparing Nigerians for jobs. We are developing people who can build businesses, improve existing industries, solve local problems and provide services to a global market,” she said.

The call for greater practical exposure is also being demonstrated by STEMFest Africa, which has used its annual festival to introduce school pupils to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics through practical activities.

At the sixth edition of STEM Africa Fest, themed Building Future Innovators, co-organiser Jadesola Adedeji said the initiative was created in response to the need to make STEM education more accessible, practical and engaging for Nigerian children.

Adedeji said STEM learning had for too long been perceived as abstract, overly technical and disconnected from everyday experiences, adding that the festival had evolved from an annual learning event into an ecosystem-building platform.

“We see ourselves as ecosystem builders. This festival is not just an event; it is an advocacy platform aimed at making STEM education mainstream across Africa,” she said.

Co-founder and co-organiser, Titi Adewusi, said inclusion remained central to the programme, particularly efforts to ensure that children from underserved communities have access to practical STEM learning.

“From inception, our goal has been to make participation as accessible as possible, with targeted interventions to widen access for underserved communities,” Adewusi said.

She also stressed the importance of encouraging more girls to pursue STEM careers, saying greater female participation would help create a more diverse pipeline of future innovators.

“As female founders, we are particularly passionate about ensuring that girls are not just represented but empowered to thrive in STEM, helping to build a more diverse and inclusive pipeline of future innovators across Africa,” she said.

Folorunso said the broader objective should be to establish a structured pathway through which young Nigerians can progress from early exposure to skills acquisition, practical experience, employment and entrepreneurship.

“Nigeria already has human potential. The challenge before us is to create a structured pipeline that moves people from exposure to learning, to practical experience, to employment and entrepreneurship,” she said.

“If we can build that pipeline effectively, digital skills can become one of the country’s strongest tools for economic growth and global competitiveness,” Folorunso added.