UNDP, Cisco partner to boost digital skills, jobs for Nigerian youths

By Chuks Oyema-Aziken

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Cisco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide free digital skills training to up to 50,000 young Nigerians under the EU-funded Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), strengthening their prospects for employment in the digital economy.

The agreement was signed at the UN House in Abuja on Friday, with representatives of the Federal Government, European Union (EU), development partners, NJFP fellows and alumni in attendance.

Under the partnership, Cisco will provide participants with free access to its Networking Academy platform on a rolling basis to acquire industry-relevant digital skills.

The NJFP is a Federal Government initiative funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP to connect Nigerian graduates with structured workplace learning and employment opportunities.

Representing the Office of the Vice President’s Delivery Unit, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Mr Akubo Adegbe, said the partnership would strengthen the link between skills development and employment.

Adegbe said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its priorities of job creation, economic opportunities and human capital development.

Cisco Nigeria and Ghana General Manager, Abdelaziz Saidu, said the partnership would equip young Nigerians with digital skills and improve their employment prospects through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP), an initiative launched in 2021 by the Office of the Vice President in partnership with UNDP and funded by the European Union (EU).

He disclosed that Cisco would provide digital learning content and training worth over $52.7 million, reaching 50,000 learners annually over three years, building on Cisco Networking Academy’s impact on more than one million learners in Nigeria.

Saidu said the collaboration would combine industry-recognised digital training with workplace experience to strengthen Nigeria’s workforce, drive digital transformation and promote economic growth.

The Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Yolanda San Jose, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to youth empowerment and Nigeria’s digital economic development.

She said the EU’s Global Gateway strategy supports a competitive, greener and inclusive economy where young people drive innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth.

UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, said the partnership would connect young Nigerians’ skills and workplace experience to employment opportunities in a rapidly changing labour market.

Attafuah said the collaboration combines Cisco’s technology expertise with UNDP’s development experience to help young people secure meaningful employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Through Cisco Networking Academy, participating fellows and alumni will access digital learning opportunities to strengthen their professional capabilities and prepare for future careers.

The partnership is expected to complement workplace training, improve employers’ access to skilled talent and bridge the gap between education and employment.

The EU noted that young people account for about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population, underscoring the importance of digital skills and employment opportunities for inclusive economic growth.

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