Germany, Nigeria Launch Digital Equipment To Enhance Youth’s Career.
By Ferdinand Olise
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (BMZ), has supported the inauguration of a new digital equipment known as the makerspace, designed to foster career opportunities and technological innovation.
The New maker space, a 25-square-meter learning space equipped with innovative digital equipment, was launched yesterday, Friday, March 28, 2025 in Lagos State to enhance career prospects for Nigerian youths.
The makerspace is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, (BMZ), and implemented by the internationally operative foundation Siemens Stiftung, and a Nigerian Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, Empowering Africans through Education Initiative (EAE).
This was contained in a joint press statement by the Siemens Stiftung (Foundation), the German Consulate in Lagos State, and the Empowering Africans through Education Initiative, made available by the Political and Press Officer, German Embassy Abuja, Matthias Dold.
According to the statement, part of the BeMINT_Nigeria training project offers hands-on Information Technology (IT) training, and
entrepreneurial skills to high-school graduates in Lagos State, noting that with a focus on female participation, this 12-week intensive program will unlock economic opportunities for 400 youth aged 18 to 24 from low-income families.
Siemens Stiftung’s Chief Executive Officer, and Spokesperson of the Board, Dr. Nina Smidt, said this three-year training and internship program equips school graduates with practical and digital skills crucial to thrive in the 21st century, characterised by technological advancements and digitisation.
“While the digital revolution has transformed societies and economies, it has also widened gender and social inequalities. The United Nations estimates that women account for only 22% of STEM jobs.
“To narrow this disparity, BeMINT_Nigeria encourages female participation, and eases access to digital learning for youth from underserved communities.
The user-centric training project advances inclusive economic participation and fosters crucial 21stcentury skills among the next generation of Nigerians”, Dr. Smidt, said.
At the heart of this project is the new makerspace that provides a hub for educational advancement and community engagement. It offers easy access to 3D technologies, tools and materials for the participants to realize their initial ideas and prototypes.
Additionally, they benefit from free access to “Hours of Engineering”, a cloud-based software from Siemens Digital Industries – offering an intuitive introduction to the world of computer-aided design and encouraging problem-solving thinking.
At the launch, the German Consul General in Lagos, Mr. Weert Börner said, investments in digital education are key to economic change, stressing that, 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. 70% of the country’s population is under 35, providing a unique basis for boosting Nigeria’s digital economy.
Over the course of the next couple of years, nine batches consisting of 45 participants each are introduced to three major focus areas: IT, vocational
orientation, and entrepreneurship. Each participant receives comprehensive, multi-disciplinary training, gaining practical experience in working with digital platforms along with securing insights into Artificial Intelligence tools to enhance their market competitiveness.
Also, the Co-founder of EA, Chinenye Ezeakor, said the current batches will benefit from hands-on mentoring by the alumni network, gaining valuable guidance as they embark on their professional journeys. “We are building on the success of the project’s first phase, launched in 2022, which has produced confident, and well-trained alumni, now working at reputed international companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as Nigerian SMEs and startups”, she said.
Meanwhile, 160 teachers will undergo training in the makerspace, enabling them to take their learning back to their classrooms and implement innovative practices. This ensures that more students benefit from this project. The training culminates in the graduates receiving certification by the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce,(AHK), in Nigeria confirming their training to German standards, thus advancing their career prospects.
