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LEVERAGING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATIONFOR ENHANCED YOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA
AfricanAfricanTechnology
TechnologyPolicy
PolicyStudies
StudiesNetwork
Network(ATPS)(ATPS)TECHNOPOLICYTECHNOPOLICYBRIEF
BRIEFNO.
NO.64
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Nicholas Ozor
Joel Nwakaire
Alfred NyambanetĞŶƚůĂŶĚDƵŚĂƟĂŚ
Cynthia Nwobodo

LEVERAGING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND INNOVATION FOR ENHANCEDYOUTH EMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA

Nicholas Ozor
Joel Nwakaire
Alfred Nyambane
Wentland Muhatiah
Cynthia Nwobodo

African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS)AFR IC

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The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) isa transdisciplinary network of researchers, policymakers,
private sector actors and the civil society promoting thegeneration, dissemination, use and mastery of Science,
Technology and Innovations (STI) for African development,
environmental sustainability and global inclusion. In
collaboration with like-minded institutions, ATPS provides
platforms for regional and international research andknowledge sharing in order to build Africa’s capabilities in
STI policy research, policymaking and implementation forsustainable development.

AFR IC

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Published by the African Technology
Policy Studies Network (ATPS)
P. O. Box 10081, 00100- GPO,
Nairobi, Kenya©2024
ISBN: 978-9966-124-70-8

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Table of Contents
About the Project ......................................................................... iv
About Africa Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS).............. v
Acknowledgement........................................................................ vi
Key Messages............................................................................... vii
1. Introduction ............................................................................ 1
2. Rationale for STI application in Youth Employment ................ 2
3. Methodology .......................................................................... 3
4. Major Findings......................................................................... 4
4.1 STI Policies and Programmes for Youth Employment in		 Nigeria................................................................................ 4
4.2 STI Institutional Framework for Youth Employment in		 Nigeria............................................................................... 5
4.3 Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Employment in		 Nigeria ............................................................................. 6
4.4 Best Practices and Impacts on Youth Employment in		 Nigeria............................................................................... 8
5. Conclusion............................................................................... 17
6. Policy Recommendations........................................................ 18
References............................................................................... 22
ATPS TechnoPolicy Briefs Series............................................... 24

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeriaiii

About the ProjectThis project was launched amid Africa’s burgeoning youth population,offering immense potential for productivity and inclusive economic
growth. However, a significant portion of this demographic faces
unemployment challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,
necessitating sustainable solutions through effective policy
interventions and institutional strengthening. Focusing on Ethiopia,
Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, theinitiative reviews Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies
to understand the current landscape, identify successes and failures,and provide evidence-based insights for decision-making in criticalsectors for youth employment and wealth creation. Aligned with
continental strategies such as the Agenda 2063 and initiatives
such as the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works
strategy and the Afreximbank’s campaign for young people’s
participation in the implementation of the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) and youth mainstreaming in policy
engagements and cross-regional dialogues among others, theproject aims to inform policymaking and foster stronger linkages
among stakeholders to address youth unemployment, skills
development, and entrepreneurship. Through rigorous researchand stakeholder engagements, the project is catalyzing
evidence-based policy discussions and contributing to theformulation of effective strategies for job creation and youth
empowerment across Africa.

iv

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

About Africa Technology Policy Studies
Network (ATPS)
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is atransdisciplinary network of researchers, policymakers, private sector
actors and civil society promoting the generation, dissemination,
use and mastery of STI for African development, environmental
sustainability and global inclusion. ATPS has over 5,000 members
and 3000 stakeholders in over 51 countries in 5 continents withinstitutional partnerships worldwide. We implement our programs
through members in national chapters established in 30 countries(27 in Africa and 3 Diaspora chapters in Australia, the United States ofAmerica, and the United Kingdom). In collaboration with like-minded
institutions, ATPS provides platforms for regional and international
research and knowledge sharing in order to build Africa’s capabilities
in STI policy research, policymaking and implementation forsustainable development.

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeriav

Acknowledgement
The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) takes
this special opportunity to thank the Mastercard Foundation,
Afreximbank, and other national partners for partnering with us andsupporting this study. The ATPS and partners also wish to appreciate
all the respondents led by the ATPS National Chapter Coordinator for
Nigeria for their contributions to this study.

vi

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Key Messages• Youth unemployment is a persistent problem in Nigeria that
requires the mainstreaming of Science, Technology, and Innovation(STI) to create more export-oriented and knowledge-based sectorsthat will reposition Nigeria from an import-dependent to exportoriented economy with more youth participation.
• The Nigerian government has launched various policies andprograms to promote job creation among the youth, innovation,
skill acquisition, and entrepreneurship. Some of these policies
have recorded successes in terms of job creation, youth
employment, and skills development. However, there is a generallack of political commitment to adequately mainstream youth
employment and employability in the country. Youth employment
and entrepreneurship development should be prioritized by the
Nigerian government through adequate funding and institutional
support, especially in the STI sectors.
• Strong partnerships with international organizations anddevelopment partners, alongside achievable policies, andprograms, can bring positive impacts to youth employment in
Nigeria. The establishment of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) Entrepreneurship Program, the Global Environment
Facility–Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP), and Centres of
Excellence (CoE) and research institutions around the country
have all contributed to the development of skills, productivity, andentrepreneurship among youth, leading to some improvementsin economic growth and job creation. Private sector contributions
to entrepreneurship and youth employment are paramount forsustained development.
• Nigeria’s fragile economy, insecurity, lack of proper monitoringand evaluation of programmes to support youth and marginalized
Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeriavii

groups, inadequate funding for STI programs, and inadequate
linkages between research and industry are challenges thecountry faces. However, these challenges present opportunities
for the youth to demand for their rights, for collaboration
between researchers and industry players, and for increased civic
engagement and participation.

viii Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

1. Introduction
Nigeria has made some progress in socio-economic development inrecent years but continues to face massive challenges in sustaining
the development gains. The over-dependence on the oil and gas
sector has created a monolithic economy which can hardly sustain
the large population of the country that has continued to soar. Low
investment in critical sectors has limited job creation and employment
opportunities. Unemployment hit an all-time high of 23% in the third
quarter of 2018, while the GDP declined from US$ 568 billion in 2014
to US$ 397 billion in 2018 (United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization [UNESCO], 2021). Despite this, the Nigerian
economy remains the largest in Africa. The lack of job opportunities
is at the core of the high poverty levels, social inequalities, andsocio-political unrest. Nigeria is one of the African countries with thehighest youth population, with over 60% of its population of over
210 million people being under the age of 30 years.
Notwithstanding this demographic advantage, youth unemployment
remains a major challenge in the country. The youth unemployment
rate in Nigeria has been on the rise over the years. It was 12.159%
in 2018 and 30% in 20211 . According to Trading Economics, theyouth unemployment rate is projected to reach 56% in 2025 (Trading
Economics, 2022). This problem could be linked to skills mismatch
and/or lack of enabling environment for employment opportunities
to thrive (Olubusoye et al., 2023). To address this challenge, there
is a need to leverage Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) to
unlock opportunities for youth employment, skill development, andentrepreneurship. By harnessing STI, Nigerian youth can acquire therequisite skills and knowledge needed to compete in today’s rapidlychanging job market. This approach can also foster the creation of
new jobs and stimulate economic growth. It is estimated that Nigeria’s
digital economy can create over $88 billion in value and create
millions of jobs by 2030 (World Bank, 2021). By leveraging digitaltechnologies and innovation, STI can create new job opportunities,
enhance skills, and promote entrepreneurship.
1

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SLUEM1524ZSNGA

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

12. Rationale for STI application for 		
Youth Employment Skills Development
The national unemployment rate in Nigeria was predicted to hit
40.6% in 2023 compared to 2022’s 37.7%, with youth accounting
for a significant proportion of the unemployed (Usen, 2023). The
situation has further been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic,
which has led to job losses and increased economic hardships. The
high rate of youth unemployment has implications for the country’s
economy, social stability, and development. The need to promote
youth employability through effective STI policies and institutional
support is therefore very exigent. There is inadequate politicalcommitment to implement effective STI policies and programmes
which has led to inadequate funding for research and development(R&D). The low funding of STI programmes in Nigeria has resulted
in limited opportunities for youth to acquire the necessary skills
and knowledge required for the job market or become self-reliant.
This has spurred some level of increased civic engagement to draw
the attention of the political actors towards job creation and skills
enhancement programmes. In response to this situation, the youth
are becoming more organized and are able to demand their rights
and opportunities. On the other hand, the poor linkage between
research and industry in Nigeria has resulted in a mismatch between
research outputs and industry needs, low commercialization ofresearch outputs, and poor entrepreneurship development among
others. This challenge presents an opportunity for collaboration
between researchers and industry players to develop solutions
that meet the needs of the market. This undoubtedly leads to thedevelopment of new products and services, its commercialization,and the subsequent creation of employment opportunities, especiallyfor the youth. Adequate investments in STI will create more exportoriented and knowledge-based sectors that can reposition Nigeria
from an import-dependent into a globally competitive economy withmore youth participation.
2

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

3. Methodology
This policy brief was developed from a comprehensive study thatdelved into STI policies, institutions, stakeholder mapping, and ananalysis of youth employment within the realm of technologicalinnovation, skill enhancement, and entrepreneurship development.
The study was conducted across seven Sub-Saharan African (SSA)
countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal,and Uganda. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach,which enabled the collection of both qualitative and quantitative
data. The data-gathering process commenced with thorough deskstudies of existing literature and secondary data. Subsequently, key
informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted, involving 20 carefully
selected respondents, to obtain primary data that encompassed
both qualitative and quantitative aspects. To further enrich thedataset and cross-verify information obtained through othermethods, focus group discussions (FGD) were carried out. The study
engaged participants from a diverse range of stakeholder categories,
including government officials and policymakers, representatives
from the private sector and industry, members of civil society andnon-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, development
partners, and individuals from the media. Special attention wasgiven to ensuring inclusivity and gender balance in the selection of
respondents, with a particular focus on representing the voices ofyouth and other marginalized groups.

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

34. Major Findings
This section presents a summary of the key findings from the study
on the contribution of STI to youth employment in Nigeria.
4.1 STI Policies and Programmes for Youth Employment in Nigeria
The government of Nigeria has implemented several policies andprograms aimed at creating job opportunities, youth employment
and entrepreneurship in the country. For instance, the revised
National STI Policy of 2022 has as one of its key strategies, to provide
policy incentives to the youth for career development in STI fields. It
also aims to promote competition and award schemes in STI among
the youth in and outside the educational system. Again, the National
Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) aims to create over
10 million jobs by 2023 and has eight pillars for the acceleration of
the Nigerian digital economy, including the development of digital
services and infrastructure.
The National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP)(2022-2027), aims to provide capacity-building, acquisition of
21st-century skill sets, and gender and youth-friendly innovations
and enterprises for the youth in agriculture. The policy aims tocreate I million new jobs for women and youth along the value
chains. The National Youth Policy of 2009 and the Presidential
Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES) were launched to promote
entrepreneurship and self-employment among Nigerian youths.
The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) programprovides grants, training, and mentorship to young entrepreneurs
with innovative business ideas. The Technology Incubation Programprovides funding, mentorship, and infrastructure to startups. The
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Act
of 2010 has led to the creation of over 60,000 jobs in the oil and gas
industry. Overall, these policies and programs have contributed to thecreation of jobs for Nigerian youth and support for skill acquisition.
4

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Table 1 highlights key policies, programmes, and initiatives in Nigeriathat support youth employment and job creation. The Nigerian youth
have also been making tremendous efforts towards job creation in the
STI sector. The youth are behind most STI start-ups in major private
Tech-companies in the country. With over 481 startups, Nigeria is oneof Africa’s ‘big four’ startup ecosystems alongside Egypt, Kenya, andSouth Africa (Mulligan and Jackson. 2022). Major leading companies
include Interswitch, flutterwave, IrokoTv, FairMoney, and Credpal
among others. Ventures in these startups vary from recruitment tomobility, logistics, agri-tech, entertainment, marketing, prop-tech,legal-tech, waste management and auto-tech (Ibid).
4.2 STI Institutional Framework for Youth Employment in Nigeria
The Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy of 2011 establisheda governance structure for STI in Nigeria, which includes several
organizations. One of such is the National Research and Innovation
Council (NRIC) which is composed of the President and the Federal
Ministers from different sectoral ministries with connections to
STI development. NRIC is responsible for setting national priorities
on research and development, coordinating STI activities, andfacilitating fundraising activities to support youth employability,
entrepreneurship, and job creation. The Federal Ministry of Science,
Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI) centrally coordinates researchand development activities, and is responsible for the formulation,
monitoring, and review of the STI policy. The National Council on
Science, Technology, and Innovation (NCSTI) sets broad directions
to coordinate STI activities in line with national priorities, monitors
the activities of public STI agencies, and disseminates outputs fromscientific research. The State Science, Technology, and Innovation
Councils (SSTIC) provide leadership and direction for STI activity at
the state levels, promotes science education, aligns policies andprograms with those of the NRIC, and implements decisions andprograms of the NCSTI. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
2 https://www.scienceandtech.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NSTIP-2022-EDITION.pdf

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

5

provides grants for humanities and social sciences, STI, and crosscutting research and development in public universities.
The revised STI Policy of 2022 acknowledges that the lack of longterm commitment to STI has been a major impediment to economic
development and emphasizes the need for an effective institutional
and legal framework comprising the NRIC, SSTIC, and NCSTI. Other
agencies and institutions also have important roles to play in the
National Innovation System (NIS) to ameliorate the increasing
unemployment rate, especially among the youth. During the KIIs
and FGDs conducted in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Science,
Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI) and The Federal Ministry ofCommunication and Digital Economy (FMCDE) were rated highest
in power and influence over the other agencies, parastatals, anddepartments in the STI ecosystem. Among the Research category, theRaw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) wields
the highest power and influence, while the Innov8 Hub and the Rural
Farmers Hub were rated the highest in power and influence among
the private sector STI actors in the country. Table 2 highlights the roles
and impacts of some selected key stakeholders in the STI ecosystemengaged in supporting skills development, youth employment, andentrepreneurship in Nigeria. All these policies, programmes, andinstitutions create an enabling environment for youth employment
in Nigeria.
4.3 Challenges and Opportunities for Youth Employment in Nigeria
Nigeria’s economy is fragile, driven mainly by oil revenue; with aworking-age population and adult literacy rate estimated at 60%.
In 2022, Nigeria’s gross domestic expenditure on research anddevelopment (GERD) was 0.13% of its GDP, which translated to an
investment of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in research and development(Sasu, 2023). The lack of political commitment to adequately
support the implementation of STI policies, especially in low R&D
investments, has led to increasing unemployment among theyouth. Poor coordination among STI stakeholders and inadequate
6

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

linkages between research and industry are other major challenges.
Many youth, women, and marginalized communities criticize thelack of adequate support and poor infrastructure required for STI
development. Insufficient funding, limited access to technology,
and inadequate R&D facilities hinder their ability to innovate andcreate employment opportunities in science and technology. These
have further led to a high rate of brain drain which directly impedes
innovation in homegrown skills. A recent survey conducted by the
National Universities Commission (NUC) to hear the voices of the
youth, women, and the marginalized shows that 89% of the 140
interviewed respondents, who were only youth, said that they are
not aware of the policies and actions of the government to using STI
to improve their skills for the future (NUC, 2023). They all responded
that the curriculum does not prepare them for future job roles andskills. According to the survey some women randomly interviewed
highlighted a lack of access to opportunities created by the STI
policies. They feel that government initiatives, scholarships, andtraining programs in STI are not inclusive and do not reach those inremote or disadvantaged areas. This scenario leads to a lack of equal
opportunities for skill development and employment.
From a gender perspective, women often face gender-based
barriers in accessing STI-related opportunities and jobs. They report
discrimination, lack of support and unequal treatment in the field.
Women and marginalized communities experience these inequalities
and yet if allowed to participate fully, they are likely to do well and excel
in all interventions geared toward innovation, entrepreneurship, andjob creation. Some youth and marginalized communities’ express
concerns about the relevance and effectiveness of the skills training
provided under STI policies. They argue that the skills being taught
in public and private research institutions may not align with thedemands of the job market or may not adequately prepare themfor employment (Sapiro and Ward, 2020). This leads to a mismatch
between available skills and job opportunities.
However, it is from these challenges that opportunities can arise
Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

7

given the right enabling environment. For instance, developing skills
and providing funds to initiate startups and small businesses can leadto increased opportunities for the youth. This will require a concerted
effort amongst all stakeholders working within their mandates toplay their different roles in a conducive environment. A platform
for engagement and consultations amongst the key stakeholders
is critical in ensuring that they all pull in one direction, thereby
minimizing duplication and maximizing synergies that will be created.
The government, through its national plans and vision, should seek
to expand the economy to target new sectors outside the traditional
ones. The private sector could play the critical role of investing inopportunities that promote research as well as startups in STI. Suchinvestments will not only create a more enabling environment but
will also enhance innovation and competitiveness in the STI sector.
Under such an environment, product development can easily becommercialized and will easily feed into the economic space of thecountry. Civil society organizations can play their part in creating
innovative programs and initiatives to support skills development,
mentorship, youth employment, and entrepreneurship. They canalso play a critical role in voicing these challenges through various
forums to advocate and create awareness of the importance ofinvesting in the youth and marginalized groups. Furthermore,
Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit provides an opportunity for investors,
either individually or through public-private partnership (PPP)
arrangements. Finally, there is the opportunity for collaboration
between researchers and the industry in generating market-driven
solutions, resulting in the commercialization of research outputs
and the creation of new job opportunities for the teeming youth
population in the country.
4.4 Best Practices and Impacts on Youth Employment in Nigeria
Partnerships and collaborations among institutions within the STI
ecosystem have had a great impact on skills development, youth
employment, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Such partnerships
8

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

such as the Feed the Future project which is co-implemented
with USAID have increased employment opportunities, promoted
innovation, and empowered women and youth, among otherpositive impacts. There are ongoing efforts in the implementationof policies to drive local interventions geared towards creating jobs
for the youth and marginalized groups. The Global Environment
Facility–Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP) and the National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) Entrepreneurship Program are examples ofpolicies that support entrepreneurship and job creation. The GEFSGP has supported over 2,200 community-based projects in Nigeria
since 2009, creating over 10,000 jobs with a focus on supporting
youth and women-led initiatives. The NYSC program, which is a oneyear mandatory service program for Nigerian graduates, has had asignificant impact on youth employment. The NYSC program has also
played a significant role in promoting entrepreneurship among young
graduates. Additionally, ten centres of excellence have been set up
in Nigeria, thanks to the US$500 million in World Bank loans. These
centres support the training of youths in industry-relevant skills forjob creation and entrepreneurship.
The creation of various funds to support young researchers is also
one of the key actions that have revitalized the development of the
SME sector. The TETFund for example has been a huge success andits extension to TVET and other research bodies will have an evengreater impact. The National University Commission in Nigeria has
supported the change to new Core Curriculum Minimum Academic
Standards (CCMAS) for universities in Nigeria to focus on outcomebased education. This CCMAS is designed to ensure that young
graduates are equipped with relevant skills and knowledge forwork through science, technology, and innovation. The Mastercard
Foundation has contributed to youth employment and job creationin Nigeria through its Scholars Program in partnership with theAmerican University of Nigeria (AUN). This has led to improved quality
education and leadership development for poor young Nigerians,
offering full scholarships, mentoring, internships, and community
Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

9

service opportunities. The program has supported over 300 students
and graduates, creating over 50 jobs through their entrepreneurial
ventures (Babalola, 2022).
Another example is the Youth Employment in Agribusiness andSustainable Agriculture (YEASA) programme launched by theInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in 2012 to empower
youths and women in agribusiness through capacity building,mentoring, access to finance and markets, and policy advocacy,
adopted a participatory approach that involved the beneficiaries
in co-designing and co-implementing the interventions that suited
their needs and aspirations. The programme also leveraged on STI
to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of theagribusiness ventures. YEASA programme has trained over 7,000
youths and women and created over 3,000 jobs in the agricultural
sector (Chiekezie et al., 2016).

10 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

11- Aims at fostering an effective National - The policy creates an - The policy is timely at aenvironment
System of Innovation (NSI), that will enablingtime when the country
innovationandcreate an enabling environment foris grappling with serious
thatfor research, development and entrepreneurship
youth
unemployment
generatenewinnovation that could generate new could
problems, skills mismatch,products, services and solutions that products, services andand gross brain drain. There
meet the needs and demands of the solutions for the market
is, therefore, a need forand society. The enabling
market and society.
commensurate
political- Promoting a knowledge-based environment fosters youth
commitment in the areas
economy, will enhance the quality entrepreneurship and theof funding research andand relevance of education and creation of startups that
innovation, STI infrastructure
training that equip the youth with the support youth employment.
development, opportunities
necessary skills and competencies - The policy also launched
for skills acquisition and
Nigeria’s first STI television
for the 21st century.
empowerment of start-ups
toincrease- Leverage on STI to address some of stationto achieve the aims of thethe key challenges and opportunities awareness and advocacy.
policies. Synergy among thethat affect the livelihoods and wellcritical stakeholders in the
being of Nigerians, such as poverty
STI ecosystems will ensure
reduction, health improvement,
the efficiency of resource
environmental protection, fooduse.
security and others.

The revised STI
policy of 2022

Impact on skills development Remarks
and youth employment

Roles in skills development andyouth employment

STI Policies andProgrammes

Table 1: A summary of key STI Policies, their roles and impact on skills development and youth employment in Nigeria

12 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

supportedthe - Prioritizing diversification- Creates an enabling environment for - Has
implementation of theof the economy is a
job creation, entrepreneurship, andSustainable Development
very laudable direction.
youth employability.
Goals and the National
However, monitoring and- Outlines strategies for promoting
Development Plan.
evaluation of progress madea diversified economy, increasing
Createdopportunities
forover time are key to theinvestment in key sectors, andyouth empowerment, skill
successful implementation
improving access to finance, skills
development, job creationof the policy.
development, and business support
andentrepreneurshipservices.
in various sectors of the- Also aims to promote social
economyinclusion, environmental protectionand economic growth throughadvocacy, education, engagement,
policy advancement and innovation.

- Aimed to address unemployment - Has contributed to creating - The issues of corruption
a pipeline of skilledwere prominent in theand skills development among
andemployableyoung
implementation process.
Nigerian youth.
Nigerians who contribute
Such loopholes should be- The program has provided job
to the country’s economic
envisaged, and strategies
opportunities and training in
growth in the long term.
put in place to counter
various sectors contributed to the - About 500,000 young
them during the planning
development of critical skills needed
Nigerians have been trained
and implementation stages.
in Nigeria’s economy and improved
across different sectors,
including
education,
the livelihoods of beneficiaries.
health, agriculture, andtechnology.

Vision 2030

The N-Power
programme

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

13

The National
DigitalEconomyPolicy andStrategy(2020-2030)

The Youth
Enterprise with
Innovation(YouWiN!)
programme- It aims to reposition Nigeria’s - The policy has created over
400,000 jobs for Nigerian
economy to leverage digital
youths.
technologies for growth and- It has enabled the growth ofdevelopment.
the digital economy, which is- Seeks to empower Nigerians withprojected to contribute 45%
the right skills to create and useof Nigeria’s GDP by 2025.
digital solutions, foster innovation,
This has opened up more
opportunities for young
and entrepreneurship, create jobs
people to start and growand wealth, and enhance service
their businesses in the digitaldelivery and inclusion
space.

- Building on the digital
revolution will enhance thecompetitiveness of Nigeria’s
economy. A critical concern
will be to guard against
inequalities
that
could
result from the digital divide
because of the huge digital
literacy gaps and genderdisparity issues relating
to the adoption of digitaltechnologies.

- Supports young entrepreneurs in - Strengthen partnerships with - Providing a platform for
Nigeria with business training and private sector stakeholders.
enhanced access to finance
Since 2011, it has supported
funding.
is a step in the right direction.
3,900
youth-led- Drives Skills development and overSustainability would mean
youth employment in Nigeria by businesses, created overcreating more innovative
providing young entrepreneurs 30,000 direct jobs, andways to enhance accessgenerated over $15 million inwith access to finance andtofunding for the youth
annual revenue.
mentorship, enabling them to start - The programme has facilitatedand providing customized
and grow their businesses.
training and mentorship toaccess to finance, training, andmentoring, contributing toenhance entrepreneurship.
the development of a vibrantentrepreneurial ecosystem inthe country.

14 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Special Tertiary
Education TrustFund (TETFund)for TVET.

- Supports the setting-up of
specialised centres of excellence
for the training of willing students
during off-semester, to acquire
specialized skills like automobile
maintenance, welding, carpentry,
tailoring, graphic design, etc.
These centres are driving thedevelopment of skills in job
creation entrepreneurship, withsupport from the Federal Ministryof Science and Technology.

- Over 22,000 youths with - High-level monitoring andevaluation of the project isdisabilities
have
been
needed. There should betrained in various vocational
increased transparency andskills, resulting in job
coordination in the selection
creation and a reduction inof grantees.
unemployment rates3.
- It has supported theestablishment of 42 new
TVET centres, providing
more opportunities foryouths with disabilities toacquire skills and improvetheir employability.

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

15

The Innov8 Hub

Private Sector

The National
Office forTechnology
Acquisition andPromotion(NOTAP)

Tertiary Education
Trust Fund
(TETFund)- Drives to empower young entrepreneurs
and promote innovation; Offers training,
mentorship, and funding opportunities tostartups; and supports skills development andyouth employment in Nigeria.

- Provides supplementary support to alllevels of public tertiary institutions with themain objective of using funding alongsideproject management for the rehabilitation,
restoration, and consolidation of Tertiary
Education in Nigeria. It supports research in
STI through the National Research Fund andthe Institution-Based Research Fund.
- Supports skills development and youth
employment through policies, programs, andinitiatives; Provides skills, funding, and job
opportunities through targeted training thathas resulted in the empowerment of youths.

- Has supported over 100 businesses and createdmore than 500 jobs since its inception in 2018;
Providing access to resources and networks that
help young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into
successful businesses.

- As of 2021, TETFund has disbursed over ₦1trillion to beneficiary institutions, resulting in
improved quality of education and increased
employability of graduates. Additionally,
TETFund-supported research has contributed
to the development of innovative solutions invarious fields, leading to the creation of new job
opportunities for young people.
- Facilitated the registration of over 50 patentable
inventions by Nigerian youths, enabling them tocommercialize their ideas and contribute to thecountry’s economic growth.
- In 2020 alone, NOTAP trained over 500 youths
in technology entrepreneurship and innovation,
resulting in the creation of over 1,000 jobs
(Asemota, 2021).

Table 2: Summary of key institutions, their roles and impact on youth employment in Nigeria
Impacts on skills development and youth
STI Institutions Roles in skills development
STI Institutions
employment
and youth employment
Government: Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs)

16 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria- Support skills development and youth
employment in Nigeria through training insoftware development and tech skills.

- The company has trained over 5,000 softwaredevelopers in Nigeria through its “Flutterwave
Developer Academy” program, and its payment
gateway has enabled many Nigerian businesses
to expand their reach and hire more employees.

Rural farmers hub

The Associationof Professional
Women
Engineers of
Nigeria (APWEN)- Has provided training to over 500 young
women engineers and facilitated the creationof over 100 jobs through its entrepreneurshipprogram. APWEN’s efforts have contributed tothe increase in the number of female engineersin Nigeria, which has risen from 11% in 2015 to
16% in 2021.
- Has provided job opportunities and improved
skills for young people in rural areas, which canhave a positive impact on the local economy
and promote sustainable development. Farmers
mainly in rural communities in Nigeria havebeen assisted in increasing crop yield by up to
55% in Fine-grained crops.

- Aims to provide mentoring, training, financial
support, and networking opportunities
to young women in engineering, helping
to increase their employability andentrepreneurship skills.

- Provides farmers with advisory services
guided by satellite-based remote imagery;
Encourages the sustained economic
development of smallholder farmers byachieving higher levels of productivity
through innovative information technology
and technical training of youths in ruralcommunities.

Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s)/ Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs)

FlutterWave

5. Conclusion
Promoting youth employability through effective policy andinstitutional support is crucial for sustaining Nigeria’s economic
growth and development. The country has a large youth population,
which presents both opportunities and challenges. With the rightpolicies and institutional support, Nigeria can harness the potentialof its youth to drive innovation, productivity, and economic growth.
Efforts to promote youth employment should focus on providing
relevant education and skills training that align with the needs ofthe job market and industry. Additionally, there should be a focus on
creating an enabling environment that encourages entrepreneurshipand innovation. This includes access to finance, mentorship, andbusiness development support. Effective policy and institutional
support will require collaboration between the government, private
sector, research institutions, universities including TVETs and civilsociety organizations. Institutional reforms such as streamlining theregulatory environment and reducing the bureaucratic hurdles forstarting and growing businesses can contribute to promoting youth
employability.

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

17

6. Policy Recommendations
Based on the key findings from the study, the following policy
recommendations are proffered to enhance youth employment,sustainable and inclusive skills development, and entrepreneurshipdevelopment in Nigeria:
Recommendation 1: There should be a comprehensive strategy
that combines economic diversification, increased STI funding, andpolitical commitment to enhance youth employment and foster
technological innovation development: The government should
prioritize investment in non-oil sectors, particularly the technology
and digital economy, to create new job opportunities for young people.
This can be achieved by providing incentives such as innovation
funds for technology start-ups, Science, Technology, Engineering,and Mathematics (STEM), and TVET education; improvement in R&D
infrastructure; convivial environment for ease of doing business, tax
breaks, and continuous capacity building opportunities, especiallyfor the youth. Simultaneously, the government must demonstrate
a strong commitment to the implementation of the STI policies
and programmes, with adequate funding for R&D, improved
governance, and accountability. Investing in STEM education,
establishing innovation hubs, addressing skills gaps, and promoting
entrepreneurship and innovation can empower the youth and drive
sustainable economic growth. The private sector employers of labourand development partners should develop internal mechanisms to
support programmes that target outcome-based education, local
fabrication and economic diversification through targeted funding
and direct investments.
Nigeria needs to increase its annual budget for R&D to at least
1% of GDP and prioritize research that can lead to technologicalinnovation and economic growth. Increased funding can support theestablishment of technology hubs, innovation centres, and research
institutes, which can serve as incubators for young innovators andentrepreneurs. This will lead to the development of new products,
18 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

services, and businesses that can create employment opportunities
for young Nigerians. Additionally, funding can also support thedevelopment of vocational and technical education programs toequip young people with the skills needed to participate in emerging
sectors such as renewable energy, biotechnology, and ICT. There
should be specific financial policies to encourage private sectorbusiness funding of research and innovation. Such policies may
include tax exemptions, lower tax rates, duty-free imports of STI
products, friendly policies on government grants, and lower interest
rates etc. These will indirectly promote an enabling environment for
STI to thrive thereby enhancing youth employment in the country.
Recommendation 2: There is need for increased coordinationof the critical actors in the STI ecosystem to improve synergies
in boosting youth employment and job creation in the country:
Improving coordination among STI stakeholders, including thegovernment, private sector, academia, research institutions,and civil society organizations is necessary to reduce duplicationof efforts, lack of synergy, and fragmentation of STI activities.
For example, if universities, government agencies, and privatecompanies collaborate more effectively to identify and prioritize
the most promising areas of research and innovation, this can leadto the creation of new industries and job opportunities for young
people. If these stakeholders work together to improve access totraining and mentoring programs, young people can gain the skills
and knowledge needed to succeed in high-demand fields. There isa need to encourage investment in R&D infrastructure, facilities,
science parks, and technology incubators to improve researchcollaboration, access to research equipment, and innovation
outputs. Additionally, the country needs policies and frameworks
that can bridge the gap between research and industry to promote
the commercialization of research outputs, create new products andservices, and generate employment opportunities for the youth. For
instance, if the government invests in building better transportation
systems, it can open new opportunities for businesses to expand
Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

19their reach and hire more workers. This could result in more job
openings for the youth in fields such as logistics, transportation, andconstruction. Improved power supply and access to clean water cancreate more job opportunities in the manufacturing and agricultural
sectors among others.
Recommendation 3: There should be an increased prioritisation ofoutcome-based education and research in STI to cushion the futureof work challenges: Public and Private research institutions should
prioritize and allocate resources for training and research projects
that address the needs and challenges faced by youth, women, andthe marginalized communities to prepare them for future of workneeds; establish partnerships and collaborations with marginalized
communities to co-create research projects and ensure the inclusionof their perspectives and knowledge as well as harness their inherent
potentials that could contribute to developments; and develop andimplement mentorship programs to support young researchers,
especially those from marginalized communities, to enhance theirskills and access to opportunities in research and development. The
development partners need to support capacity-building initiatives
that aim to develop the skills of youth, women, and marginalized
communities in the science and technology sector; invest ininitiatives that promote gender equality, inclusion, and diversity inscience and technology fields and partner with local organizations
and communities to ensure the sustainability and relevance ofinterventions in marginalized areas thus making it more impactful. In
this sense, there is need to ‘formalize the informal sectors’ to preparethem more adequately to contribute to national development.
Support from development partners can go a long way to achieving
this through partnerships with relevant African organizations.
Recommendation 4: There is need for more inclusive STI policy
development and its implementation: In developing STI policies,
there is need to make the process all-inclusive ensuring that thevoices of the youth, women, and marginalized groups are taken
20 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

into consideration. Similarly, adequate implementation strategies
and monitoring, evaluation, and learning plans must be put in place
to ensure effective implementation and desired impacts from suchpolicies. When all stakeholders participate in co-designing andco-developing policies and programmes, there is a high tendency
that they will give their support in its implementation leading to
the desired impacts. The Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan
(NIYEAP) 2021-2024 is a comprehensive and coordinated policy
framework that aims to address the challenges and opportunities
for youth employment in Nigeria. The policy was developed througha consultative process involving various ministries, agencies,
development partners, youth organizations, and experts. It has
four priority areas of intervention: employability, entrepreneurship,
employment, and equality and rights.

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

21

References
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Nigerian Youths Capacity in Science. https://extraordinairepeople.
com/2021/06/10/swedish-notap-move-to-build-capacity-ofnigerian-youths-capacity-in-science-tech-innovation.
Babalola, O (2022). Foundation to train 100,000 youths by 2030. The
Guardian Newspaper. https://guardian.ng/news/foundation-totrain-100000-youths-by-2030/
Chiekezie, O, Nzewi, H and Erhinmwionose, I (2016). Entrepreneurial
Skill Acquisition and Job Creation in Benin City, Nigeria. EPRAInternational Journal of Economic and Business Review, Vol. 4,
Issue 6, June 2016. https://ssrn.com/abstract=2826929
Mulligan G., and Jackson T. (2022). The Nigeria Startup Ecosystem
Report 2022. Available at: https://disrupt-africa.com/wp-content/
uploads/2022/09/The-Nigerian-Startup-Ecosystem-Report-2022.
pdf.
National Universities Commission [NUC] (2023). Survey of acceptanceof outcome-based education among university students.
Unpublished work as part of Engineering X project, Royal Academyof Engineering, UK.
Olubusoye, O.E., Salisu, A.A. and Olofin, S.O. (2023). Youthunemployment in Nigeria: nature, causes and solutions. Qual
Quant 57, 1125-1157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-02201388-8
Sapiro, B. and Ward, A. (2020). Marginalized Youth, Mental Health,and Connection with Others: A Review of the Literature. Child
Adolesc Soc Work J 37, 343–357. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560019-00628-5
Sasu D, (2023). Gross domestic expenditure on R&D as a share of GDP in
Nigeria 2020-2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1345422/
gross-domestic-expenditure-on-randd-as-percentage-of-gdp-innigeria/

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Trading Economics (2022). Nigeria Youth Unemployment Rate - 2023
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nigeria/youth-unemployment-rate
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Transformation and Creating Jobs’, Washington, DC:
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ATPS TechnoPolicy Briefs Series• Unlocking the Potential of Education and Skills for Supporting
Youth Employment in Kenya (ATPS Technopolicy Brief No. 65)• Harnessing Science and Technological Innovation for Youth
Employment and Skill Acquisition in Ghana (ATPS Technopolicy
Brief No. 64)• Is Ethiopia’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Landscape
Effectively Creating Jobs and Fostering Skills for the Youth? (ATPSTechnoPolicy Brief No. 63)• University-Led Ecosystems for Sustained Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Development in Kenya (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief
No. 62)• Eco-innovation Policies for Sustainable Development in Africa(ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 61)• Institutional Landscape for Eco-innovation Development in Africa(ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 60)• Policy and Institutional Framework for Ecological Organic
Agriculture in Benin (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 59)• Institutional Framework for Ecological Organic Agriculture in
Kenya (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 58)• Policy and Institutional Framework for Ecological Organic
Agriculture in Senegal (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 57)• Advancing Ecological Organic Agriculture in Nigeria (ATPSTechnoPolicy Brief No. 56)• Policy and Institutional Framework for Ecological Organic
Agriculture in Rwanda (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 55)• Bridging Climate Information Gaps to Strengthen Capacities for
Climate Informed Decision (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 54)• Embracing Open Contracting in Africa (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief
No. 53)• The Digital Revolution, Open Science, and Innovation for OpenScience Development in Sub-Saharan Africa (ATPS TechnoPolicy
Brief No. 52)
24 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

• Nouvelles approaches de fi nancement de la recherché et deL’innovation en Afrique (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 51)• New Approaches for Funding Research and Innovation in Africa(ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 50)• Towards Effective Public-Private Partnerships in Research andInnovation: A Perspective for African Science Granting Councils(ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 49)• Innovative Practices and Policies for Promoting Biodiversity
Informatics in Sub-Saharan Africa (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No.
48)• Improving the Relevance of University Training to Labour Market
Demands in Africa (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 47)• Developing Policies for Biodiversity Informatics in sub-SaharanAfrica (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 46)• ICTs role in Agricultural Development: Prospects of Land Potential
Knowledge System (LandPKS) (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 45)• Mainstreaming Gender in the National Science, Technology andInnovation (STI) Policy of Kenya (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 44)• Social Innovation: An Untapped Resource for Inclusive Green
Growth (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 43)• Policy Axes that Can Uphold Agricultural Innovations for Climate
Change Adaptation and Food Security in Central Africa: Case of
Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic (ATPSTechnoPolicy Brief No. 42)• Frameworks for Intellectual Property Protection of Traditional
Knowledge in Tanzania (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 41)• Assessment of Possible Intellectual Property Protection Optionsof Traditional Knowledge System in Ethiopia (ATPS TechnoPolicy
Brief No. 40)• Towards influencing National Legislation, Policies, Strategies andProgrammes for appropriate Protection and Benefit-Sharing ofTraditional Knowledge (TK) with and by Traditional Herbalists in
Uganda. (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 39)• Traditional Healers and their Provision of Mental Health Services
Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

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in Cosmopolitan Informal Settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. (ATPSTechnoPolicy Brief No. 38)• Policy Implications for Intellectual Property Systems for Traditional
Healers in Lesotho. (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 37)• Incidence of Indigenous and Innovative Climate Change
Adaptation Practices for Smallholder Framers’ Livelihood Security
in Chikhwawa District, Southern Malawi. (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief
No. 36)• Machobane Farming System and its Relevance to Climate Change
Policy in Lesotho. (ATPS TechnoPolicy Brief No. 35)

26 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

27

28 Leveraging Science, Technology, and Innovation for Enhanced Youth Employment in Nigeria

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The African Technology Policy Studies Network(ATPS) is a transdisciplinary network of researchers,
policymakers, private sector actors and the civilƐŽĐŝĞƚǇƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐƚŚĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ͕ĚŝƐƐĞŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ͕ƵƐĞĂŶĚŵĂƐƚĞƌǇŽĨ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ͕dĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐǇĂŶĚ/ŶŶŽǀĂƟŽŶƐ(STI) for African development, environmentalƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂů ŝŶĐůƵƐŝŽŶ͘ /Ŷ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚ ůŝŬĞͲŵŝŶĚĞĚ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ͕ dW^ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐƉůĂƞŽƌŵƐĨŽƌƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĚŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĂŶĚknowledge sharing in order to build Africa’sĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ^d/ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ƉŽůŝĐǇŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶĨŽƌƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͘

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