Germany reiterates support to boost Nigeria’s digital career
Weert Börner
Germany reiterates support to boost Nigeria’s digital career.
* Germany to fill gender gap through STEM.
Germany has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering digital education and career development in Nigeria with the launch of Makerspace under the BeMINT_Nigeria training project.
Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Siemens Stiftung, in partnership with a Nigerian NGO, Empowering Africans through Education Initiative (EAE), the initiative aims to equip Nigerian youths with essential technological skills.
The 25-square-metre Makerspace provides hands-on IT training and entrepreneurial skills to high school graduates from low-income families. Over the next three years, 400 young Nigerians aged 18 to 24 will benefit from the programme, which aligns with Germany’s broader goal of strengthening international education cooperation.
At the launch, the German Consul-General in Lagos, Mr Weert Börner, emphasised the importance of investing in digital education as a driver of economic change.
“Facilitating digital infrastructure and improving training opportunities that broaden economic avenues for young Nigerians, especially young women, is a core element of Nigerian-German cooperation. With 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population under age 35, there is a unique opportunity to boost the country’s digital economy,” he said.
CEO and board spokesperson, Siemens Stiftung, Dr Nina Smidt, stated: “While the digital revolution has transformed societies and economies, it has also widened gender and social inequalities. BeMINT_Nigeria advances inclusive economic participation and fosters crucial 21st-century skills among the next generation of Nigerians.”
Germany’s commitment to bridging the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers is a key aspect of the initiative.
