UAE collaboration empowers over 7 million Nigerian youths with digital expertise and worldwide prospects
The Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) has formed a significant partnership with the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) as part of a broader collaboration between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to empower Nigerian youth with digital and entrepreneurial skills.
During a high-level Nigerian delegation visit to the UAE, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, the partnership was established. The aim is to equip over seven million young Nigerians with advanced digital literacy, civic leadership, and startup skills to participate actively in the global digital economy.
Sheraa, a prominent innovation hub in the UAE, aligns with NiYA’s vision to foster youth innovation and entrepreneurship by connecting Nigerian youth to global innovation ecosystems. The primary goal is to transition Nigerian youths from mere consumers to creators within the global digital economy by providing training in digital skills, AI education, business process outsourcing (BPO), startup incubation, and remote work strategies.
A significant initiative under this partnership is the upcoming GITEX-powered National Digital Innovation Showcase, scheduled for September 1–4, 2025. This event will feature 300 promising Nigerian startups, providing them international exposure and market access. This event is co-developed with Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Over 210,000 youths have already enrolled in NiYA's programs, and Green House Centres have been established in all 774 local government areas across Nigeria to provide direct access to training, enterprise support, and emerging technologies. The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance youths' competencies in emerging sectors such as AI, BPO, and remote work, which are critical for Nigeria’s digital transformation and economic diversification.
By fostering a supportive ecosystem for startups and innovation, the partnership aims to create jobs, stimulate technological entrepreneurship, and integrate Nigerian youth into the global digital economy. The synergy between NiYA and Sheraa helps leverage global expertise and innovation networks, creating pathways for scalable youth-led enterprises in Nigeria and improving their competitiveness internationally.
The NiYA-Sheraa partnership serves as a vital catalyst for digital skills enhancement and entrepreneurial development among Nigerian youths, driven by a shared mission to unlock their creative potential and build Nigeria’s digital economy for sustained future growth. The partnership underscores the Nigerian government's resolve to equip its youth with the skills, resources, and international connections essential for success in the fast-changing digital world.
The NiYA-Sheraa partnership aims to create an environment conducive for personal growth and learning, focusing on education-and-self-development and startup ecosystems within Nigeria. This collaboration is designed to transition youths from passive learners to active creators in the digital economy, fostering their involvement in personal-growth programs that include learning digital skills, AI education, business process outsourcing, startup incubation, and remote work strategies.
