Nigeria Sets To Harness Youth’s Potential To Thrive In Digital Economy: Ministry

Nigeria Sets to harness youth’s potential to thrive in digital economy: Ministry. Technical Adviser to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Francis Sani, has said Nigeria is ready to thrive in the digital economy.

This he said was possible by leveraging its youth and global demand for digital skills.

Mr Sani, also Programme Director of 3MTT Nigeria, spoke at the launch of Darey.io and Xterns.ai, their new tech hub. The event, held Saturday in Lagos, had the theme: “Tech and Tea: Brewing Nigeria’s Technology Innovation Future.’’

Highlighting the role of digital skills, Mr Sani said they were crucial for economic growth, enabling Nigeria to tap into the global outsourcing market.
He stressed the ministry’s aim was to ensure every Nigerian could access technical training, regardless of financial or geographical barriers.

According to him, the partnership with Darey.io would provide practical, AI-driven, project-based learning to enhance training quality and effectiveness.

He explained that the ministry’s approach centres on five pillars: knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade, to spur national development.

Mr Sani also highlighted Nigeria’s large youth population as a major advantage in the global digital economy.

He said the ministry was creating an environment to attract tech companies to Nigeria, generating jobs for young people.

Discussing AI’s economic impact, he said it would transform work and value creation, urging Nigeria to position itself for the changes.

Founder and CEO of Darey.io, Dare Oluwafunmilayo, outlined plans to bridge gaps in Nigeria’s digital economy through partnerships and infrastructure development.
Mr Olufunmilayo said their tech hub aimed to create a collaborative space where young people could learn and develop essential digital skills.

He said, “Our aim is to offer young people a platform to gain skills, network with professionals, and build a pipeline of talent for the digital economy.’’

Speaking on their 3MTT partnership, he said the goal was to train three million technical talents using digital tools to track progress and provide career metrics.
Mr Olufunmilayo noted that over 5,000 people had been trained in four and a half years, with 100,000 more currently enrolled through the 3MTT programme.

He noted the education offered was free due to 3MTT support, underlining the importance of public-private collaboration for economic advancement.

He also emphasised soft skills, stating technical expertise alone does not ensure employment; communication and teamwork are equally vital.
Mr Olufunmilayo said the hub fosters collaboration and innovation, with professionals delivering training to enhance learning experiences.

Digital Economy, Ministry of communication

To further empower youth, he announced the launch of the Dare Olufunmilayo Human Capital Foundation.

“The foundation aims to partner with organisations to provide laptops and stipends, supporting talented individuals and encouraging economic growth,” he said.
Regarding certification, he said training would be recognised by platforms such as Microsoft, AWS, and Google.

He added that Darey.io would also issue its own in-house certifications for trainees.

Olympics Committees Of Africa (ANOCA) Re-Elects Habu Gumel Rreasurer-General

Olympics committees of Africa (ANOCA) re-elects Habu Gumel treasurer-general. The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has re-elected Habu Gumel as its treasurer-general.

Mr Gumel, who is also President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), emerged unopposed on Saturday at ANOCA’s General Assembly in Algiers, Algeria.
He is currently Nigeria’s only member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

NOC’s Public Relations Officer, Tony Nezianya, said on Sunday that Gumel would serve another four-year term as ANOCA’s treasurer-general.

“This reflects the trust and confidence in his leadership by ANOCA members, mainly presidents of Olympic bodies across Africa,” Mr Nezianya stated.

Also re-elected unopposed was ANOCA President Moustapha Berraf of Algeria, highlighting the organisation’s continued unity and stability.

Olympics Committees Of Africa

The assembly concluded with a special awards ceremony, where Nigeria’s D’Tigress coach, Rena Wakama, was honoured.
Ms Wakama was named ANOCA’s Best African Coach for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Her trophy was received on her behalf by Mr Gumel and presented by National Sports Commission Chairman, Shehu Dikko.

UK Introduces New Visa Rules For Care Workers, Raises Salary To £25,000 Per Year

UK introduces new Visa rules for care workers, raises salary to £25,000 per year. The UK government has announced new visa regulations affecting care workers, employers, and international students as part of efforts to curb immigration and promote local hiring.

Starting April 9, care providers must first attempt to recruit foreign workers already residing in the UK who require new visa sponsorship before hiring from abroad, according to measures introduced in Parliament on Wednesday.

Additionally, the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas will rise from £23,200 to £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour) to match the increasing minimum wage.

Prioritizing Existing Care Workers in the UK
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, emphasized the importance of international care workers while highlighting the need to crack down on exploitative recruitment practices.

“We must ensure victims of exploitation can rebuild their careers in adult social care while reducing reliance on international recruitment,” he stated.

Tighter Rules on Short-Term Student Visas
The UK government is also tightening regulations on short-term student visas amid concerns of system abuse. Foreign students taking English language courses for six to 11 months will face stricter scrutiny, with caseworkers granted more power to reject applications suspected of misuse.

Crackdown on Immigration Violations
These changes follow tougher enforcement against businesses breaching immigration laws.

Between July 2022 and December 2024, the UK revoked over 470 sponsor licenses in the care sector due to repeated violations. Employers failing to comply now face bans on hiring foreign workers.

UK Introduces New Visa Rules

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting international workers from exploitation and ensuring fair recruitment practices.

Drop in Visa Applications
The new restrictions have led to a sharp decline in foreign worker and student visa applications. Between April and December 2024, applications fell by 42%, from 942,500 in 2023 to 547,000.

Health and care worker visas saw the biggest drop, plummeting by 79% from 299,800 in 2023 to 63,800 in 2024.