The programme is designed to invest in young people as drivers of social and economic change, expanding their access to opportunities in an evolving digital and civic landscape.
The foundation said Nigeria Next will combine grants, impact investments, and thought leadership to address barriers restricting youth access to technology, economic opportunities, and governance.
The foundation noted that Nigeria’s demographics highlight the urgency of the intervention, with about 60 percent of the population under 30 and 42 percent under 15, yet only seven percent possessing the digital skills needed for the modern economy.
The initiative will focus on four key areas: digital inclusion, creativity and innovation, civic participation, and research driven policy development.
On digital inclusion, the programme aims to expand access to technology and strengthen knowledge around artificial intelligence, ethics, and digital skills, while also supporting hubs and shared workspaces to foster innovation.
It will also promote civic engagement by strengthening journalism, media, and civic spaces, amplifying young voices, and encouraging digital citizenship.
Additionally, the foundation plans to fund research and policy analysis to influence government decisions affecting young Nigerians, while collaborating with other organisations across technology, media, and governance sectors.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Kole Shettima, director of the foundation’s Nigeria office, said Nigeria Next was shaped by consultations across multiple cities, including Kafanchan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Abuja, Kano, and Lagos.
He shared the story of Balkisu, a young TikTok creator from Bauchi who, despite financial challenges preventing her from attending college, has used digital platforms to participate in civic movements.
Shettima said her story reflects the broader goal of the initiative shifting the narrative from seeing young people as challenges to recognising them as assets.
He added that Nigerian youths are already driving innovation across sectors such as technology, agriculture, and the creative industries, while also redefining civic engagement through digital platforms.
According to him, Nigeria’s young population represents a powerful force for change, and Nigeria Next aims to harness that potential by promoting inclusion, creativity, and active participation in shaping the country’s future.
Goodness Anunobi
Follow us on:
