Fast-Tracking Nigeria’s Demographic Transition

Nigeria is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa, with approximately about 218.5 million people, which has a significantly growing youth bulge. The youth overall population comprises about 42.54% of individuals, with a median age of 18 years, meaning that more than half of the country’s population is below 18.

This youthful population provides the country with limitless opportunities for growth and development. Unfortunately, about 53.40% of Nigerian youths are unemployed according to youth unemployment rates released by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2022. This has led to a high dependency ratio, a situation that has negatively impacted the country’s economy.

The high dependency on a working population that is getting smaller poses a real threat to reaping the demographic dividend that a youthful population provides. Also, as the future of work continues to go digital, the Nigerian youth unemployment rate has continued to increase, due to a large percentage of the unskilled young demographic population, which has been identified as a bane to the rising number of unemployed people in the country.

Notably, Nigeria is sitting on a demographic goldmine that could transform the economy, unfortunately, the country is not reaping the benefits of its current population structure. A large population of unskilled, economically unproductive, unhealthy, and poorly educated young people is no doubt a burden to society.

Nigeria’s youthful population can provide a significant demographic dividend if its potential is properly harnessed. The size and youthfulness of the population offer great potential to expand the country’s capacity as the regional economic hub of Africa and globally.

In view of this, the need for the country to train its youthful workforce on emerging skills that will be ready to attract foreign investment remains a remedy to unemployment challenges facing the country.

Notably, the Government approved educational technology platform Getbundi has shown commitment to fast-tracking Nigeria’s demographic transition through the training of youths on digital skill acquisition.

GetBundi understands that Nigeria’s demographic transition could not be fast-tracked without equipping the youths with 21st-century skills. The startup, therefore, knows that digital Skills are an essential pillar required for demographic transition. Hence, it has developed STEM-related courses for secondary school students based on the West African curriculum and Digital skill courses made to equip anyone with 21st-century skills.They went further to create digital skill courses in pidgin English for deeper penetration.

GetBundi understands that only countries with STEM-enabled citizens can achieve meaningfully development, because STEM education encourages creativity, problem-solving, innovation, and critical thinking is a high-demand skill needed in this 21st century.

The startup’s investment in digital skills for Nigerian youths is a critical step towards transforming the economy and achieving sustainable growth and development. It can help build a skilled and innovative workforce, increase productivity, and enhance digital infrastructure, all of which are essential ingredients for economic success in the current digital age.

Equipping Nigerian youths with digital skills can help build a skilled workforce better equipped to meet the demands of the modern economy. It can also attract more foreign investment and create new job opportunities which can spur economic growth.

Digital skills can promote innovation and entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. By providing them with the necessary skills to create and launch their tech startups, it can foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation which can lead to the creation of new industries and the expansion of existing ones.

Also, equipping these youths with digital skills can increase productivity in the economy. With digital tools and technologies, individuals can complete tasks more efficiently and accurately.

Last but not least, the development of digital skills among Nigerian youths can lead to digital infrastructure growth in the country. With a skilled workforce, the country can leverage technology to build more robust and efficient digital infrastructure such as cloud computing platforms, broadband networks, and other digital services.

GetBundi’s projection is to support and up-skill ten million Africans in the next ten years through STEM and STI digital skills acquisition, a strategy it tagged as “The Getbundi Vision 2032”. With the achievement of this vision, Nigeria will no doubt record giant strides in the area of development and will be able to compete globally in the area of science and innovation.

GetBundi’s strategy can help to fast-track Nigeria’s demographic transition and create a more prosperous future for the people. The startup understands that to build a Nigeria beyond aid, there is a need to refocus learning toward science and technology, especially for post-primary students and the youths.