Can AI Training Solve Youth Unemployment in Nigeria?

With over 33% of Nigeria’s youth unemployed, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, many young people are stuck at home, jobless, and frustrated. But a new digital training initiative is promising to change that story — one skill at a time.
AltSchool Africa, an education technology platform, has launched AI for 10M Africans, a bold plan to train 10 million people across the continent in artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to give young Africans the tech skills needed to succeed in a changing job market.
“AI is already part of our lives,” said Adewale Yusuf, CEO of AltSchool Africa. “From online banking to ride-hailing apps, it’s everywhere. If our young people don’t learn it, they risk being left behind.”
In countries like India, where over 400,000 tech professionals are already working in AI-related roles, digital skills are helping reduce unemployment. Even closer to home, countries like Kenya and Rwanda are investing heavily in digital education to create new jobs in tech.
By offering both beginner and advanced training, AltSchool wants to make AI learning simple and accessible. The programme will teach things like machine learning, automation, and AI-powered problem solving. These skills are in high demand globally — and many jobs can be done remotely, from anywhere with a laptop and good internet.
Experts believe this kind of training can do more than just land jobs. It can help young Nigerians start tech businesses, offer freelance services, or build solutions for local challenges, like smart farming apps or AI health tools.
Of course, there are hurdles. Poor power supply, high data costs, and lack of digital devices still hold many back. But with government support and private partnerships, programmes like this could bring real change.
In a country where nearly 1 in 3 young people is out of work, training them for the future may be Nigeria’s best chance to break the unemployment cycle. AI may not fix all the problems, but it could open doors to a better tomorrow.