PALMPAY, FG PARTNER TO EQUIP NIGERIAN YOUTHS WITH CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY SKILLS

Nigeria partners with PalmPay to train one million youths in data protection, aimed at building privacy-first generation for a digital economy.

Nigeria Data protection skills Digital safety Youth Palmpay Development Patnership Digital economy.
Nigeria Partners PalmPay on Youth Development
Nigeria Partners PalmPay on Youth Development


Nigeria is taking decisive action to safeguard its digital future by launching a nationwide programme that will train one million young people in data protection and online safety.

The initiative, unveiled in Abuja, is a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and fintech giant PalmPay. It seeks to address one of the country’s biggest digital challenges: the lack of skilled professionals to manage privacy and cybersecurity in an economy that is increasingly dependent on technology.

With over 70 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, organisers say the training is designed to create a “privacy-first generation” capable of driving innovation while protecting sensitive information. The Youth Data Protection Awareness and Training Programme will run over three years, offering participants hands-on training, mentorship, and internship opportunities to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application.

The Minister of Youth Development described the initiative as a turning point for the country’s digital economy, noting that while the Data Protection Act was passed in 2023, compliance remains weak due to a shortage of certified officers. “We cannot build a trusted digital economy without empowering our youth with the tools to safeguard it,” he said.

PalmPay’s Managing Director echoed this sentiment, stressing that data privacy must go hand in hand with technological growth. He explained that the company has embedded safety features across its platforms and sees this programme as an opportunity to extend those principles to the broader ecosystem.

The scheme will not only focus on technical knowledge but also prepare participants for leadership roles in governance, privacy management, and cybersecurity areas where demand is surging across Africa. Top-performing trainees will benefit from industry placements, giving them a direct pathway into Nigeria’s growing tech sector.

This initiative builds on PalmPay’s previous youth-focused programs, such as the Purple Woman campaign and the Passing the Baton CSR scheme. By scaling the new project nationwide, including in underserved northern states, the government and its private-sector partner hope to close the country’s digital skills gap and set a benchmark for the continent.

Analysts believe the programme could serve as a model for other African nations, ensuring that the continent’s young population is not just digitally connected but also digitally protected.

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