UNICEF Trains 100,000 Borno Youth in Digital Skills

Young people in Borno State are building futures once thought impossible, with 100,000 receiving digital and vocational training in 2025 alone.

The United Nations Children's Fund announced the milestone Tuesday at an International Day of Education event in Maiduguri. UNICEF Chief Francis Butichi explained the program reached graduates, undergraduates, and other young people across the conflict-affected state.

The initiative does double duty in remarkable ways. Through a partnership with the University of Maiduguri, young educators work in non-formal learning centers while gaining real-world experience. These youth are simultaneously earning income and helping thousands of out-of-school children return to classrooms.

Over 4,600 beneficiaries in Bama, Dikwa, Monguno, and Maiduguri received starter packs to launch businesses. The support allows them to turn newly learned skills into sustainable income while helping educate younger siblings or their own children.

The training spans digital platforms like the Nigeria Passport Learning Initiative and programs focused on literacy and numeracy for work and self-reliance. Youth also participate in technology-driven spelling bees and math quizzes that blend innovation with essential skills.

The Ripple Effect

This program shows how investing in young people creates waves of positive change. When youth gain employable skills, they don't just lift themselves up—they become teachers, mentors, and providers for others.

In a region still healing from years of conflict and displacement, these 100,000 trained youth represent seeds of stability. They're earning income, supporting families, and rebuilding educational infrastructure that serves the next generation.

The approach aligns with Nigeria's broader vision of youth empowerment and addresses critical gaps in a state where educational disruption has affected hundreds of thousands. By making young people partners rather than just recipients, UNICEF is helping create sustainable solutions that outlast any single program.

Butichi captured the spirit perfectly at Tuesday's event: "You are not waiting for change—you are creating it." In Borno State, 100,000 young people are proving him right every day.