MacArthur Foundation Backs Nigerian Youth Tech Movement

When Balkisu from Bauchi, Nigeria couldn't afford college after high school, she thought her voice wouldn't matter. But armed with just a smartphone and creativity, the young TikToker became a powerful voice during the 2024 #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement.

Her story inspired something bigger. The MacArthur Foundation launched Nigeria Next, a grant program designed to amplify voices like hers across Africa's most populous nation.

The initiative targets a massive opportunity. Nigeria's population skews remarkably young, with 60% under age 30 and 42% under 15.

MacArthur spent two years preparing for this moment. Starting in 2022, foundation staff traveled beyond major cities to places like Kafanchan, Bauchi, Maiduguri, and Port Harcourt, listening to young people's challenges and dreams.

What they discovered was a generation already creating change. Young Nigerians are building tech startups in Lagos, producing globally celebrated Nollywood films, and pioneering civic activism on climate change, transparency, and gender-based violence.

Balkisu represents both the challenge and promise of this generation. Despite coming from a large family where affording higher education was impossible, she had two things many of her peers lacked: a smartphone and one meal a day.

That smartphone became her megaphone. Through TikTok, her voice reached beyond her quiet northeastern town into Nigeria's civic conversation.

The Ripple Effect

Nigeria Next brings together three MacArthur programs: On Nigeria, Technology in the Public Interest, and Journalism and Media. Together, they're betting that digital tools, creative spaces, and civic amplification can unlock massive potential.

The foundation deliberately chose to view young people as assets rather than problems. In a nation powering innovations in fintech, agriculture, and entertainment, that perspective makes sense.

Kole Shettima, director of MacArthur's Nigeria Office, sees young Nigerians as digital natives reimagining civic engagement. From Afrobeats taking over global charts to tech breakthroughs transforming finance, their ingenuity already speaks for itself.

The program remains in early stages, but the vision is clear: invest in inclusion, innovation, creativity, and civic participation. Give young people the tools and platforms they need, then watch them drive social and economic transformation.

For every Balkisu whose voice broke through despite barriers, thousands more wait for their chance to be heard.