5 Million Nigerians To Benefit From 27,000 New Digital Jobs In The Next Three Years

Five million Nigerians over the next three years will benefit from the creation of 27,000 new digital jobs as part of Microsoft’s plans to drive the country’s digital economy.

To accelerate the digital economy of Nigeria and develop high-speed internet infrastructure, Microsoft has partnered with the Nigerian government.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo announced on Twitter on Monday that the partnership was the outcome of discussions held in January 2021 with Microsoft Corporation President, Brad Smith.

After extensive consultations with the government, Microsoft identified connectivity, skilling, and digital transformation as three key pillars that would help to build strong foundations for a digital economy in Nigeria.

Microsoft President, Brad Smith said to help reach the goal of upskilling five million Nigerians, 1,700 trainers would provide blended online and in-person training courses to the country’s youth as well as government workers.

“Government will also be given the tools to digitally transform skilling, education, and employment methods to match job seekers with the right employers. In doing so, we hope to create over 27,000 new digital jobs in the next three years,” he said.

Microsoft said its Airband team will work closely with local partners to improve broadband connectivity in Nigerian communities and assist with the design and implementation of hyper-scale cloud services.

“The technology is cheaper and faster to deploy than fiber and has the added benefit of being able to travel long distances and through forested terrain.”

“Microsoft’s Airband Initiative has succeeded in bringing high-speed internet connectivity to underserved communities around the world, tapping into the unused broadcasting frequencies of television white spaces,” the company stated.

The final pillar, digital transformation, would initially be made up of two initiatives. The first would address corruption, a major global challenge with economic losses totaling $3.6 trillion each year, while the second would help protect Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, the company said.

By collaborating with local partners like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Microsoft will support the design and implementation of cloud-based tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to help identify potential risks, highlight them, and reduce corruption.