Ogun Senator Trains 350 Youths in Digital Marketing to Tackle Unemployment

The Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Shuaib Salisu, has trained over 350 graduate youths in digital literacy and social media marketing as part of efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap and reduce unemployment.

The intensive training, which is the ninth edition of the senator’s skills acquisition programme for graduates, is currently holding at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. It focuses on equipping unemployed graduates and young entrepreneurs with modern tools and strategies for the global digital economy.

The curriculum covers social media management, online advertising, content creation, and data-driven digital marketing strategies, with an emphasis on practical, hands-on experience.

Salisu, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, said the programme reinforces his commitment to human capital development through technology. He noted that digital literacy is a vehicle for economic emancipation and described equipping youths with in-demand digital skills as a dignified and transformative form of empowerment.

The training aligns with the Federal Government’s “Digital Literacy for All” campaign, which aims to raise Nigeria’s digital literacy rate to 95 percent by 2030, as well as the Renewed Hope Agenda that prioritises job creation and youth empowerment. The senator added that the initiative also complements Ogun State’s digital transformation agenda, which has already trained thousands of youths in digital and vocational skills.

Salisu stressed that the future of work is digital, and Nigerian youth must be prepared to compete globally, especially with advancements in artificial intelligence.

According to records from his office, over 1,700 youths have been trained so far across multiple editions of the programme, with beneficiaries receiving laptops and cash grants. The senator has also facilitated ICT capacity-building for over 250 teachers, sponsored JAMB registration for more than 1,000 students, and provided scholarships and educational materials to thousands more.

His office has championed the establishment of ICT laboratories in public schools, including Nawairudeen Secondary School and Agbado District Comprehensive High School.

Past beneficiaries have reported that the training transformed them from digital consumers to creators, enabling them to secure freelance jobs, grow family businesses, and launch their own startups.

Speaking via Zoom from Kenya, where he was on a national assignment, Salisu reiterated his dedication to vocational training and individual development. He urged participants to leverage their newly acquired knowledge to improve service delivery and personal digital skills.

Participants at the ninth edition expressed gratitude for the opportunity and promised to use their skills to become self-reliant and contribute to the economic growth of the state and the nation.

The senator, who noted that his own journey from a remote village in Odeda Local Government Area to the National Assembly was made possible by education, pledged to continue collaborating with the state Ministry of Education to institutionalise digital skills training across schools.