To strengthen digital inclusion and expand employment opportunities for youth in the Niger Delta, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) participated in the 2025 edition of the Akwa Ibom Tech Week (AKTW), held on November 6-7, 2025, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Hosted by the Ibom Innovation Network, an ecosystem of more than 13 tech hubs, the annual event convened over 3,000 participants, including young innovators, government representatives, private sector leaders, development partners, and investors. The 2025 theme, “Catalysing Digital Transformation through Investment, Innovation and Impact,” spotlighted technology’s expanding role in driving economic growth, job creation, and inclusive development across the Niger Delta
Showcasing the YEP Model at the AKTW Career Fair
As part of its participation in the AKTW Career Fair, PIND—through its Youth Employment Pathways (YEP) team—hosted a panel session titled “Driving Youth Employment and Innovation through Market-Relevant TVET Models.”
The session featured representatives from diverse sectors, including a YEP implementing partner, Bruce Lucas, CEO, Olutu Square, and a program alumnus, Mfonobong Umodia, who both shared firsthand insights on how market-driven training, workplace readiness, and strong private-sector linkages are equipping young people with the skills and opportunities needed to secure meaningful employment and launch viable enterprises.
To date, PIND’s YEP program has supported over 11,000 young people across the Niger Delta with technical and soft skills training, mentorship, and job placement opportunities aligned with labour market demand.
Strengthening Collaborations for Youth Employment
To further reinforce its commitment to promoting inclusive innovation, strengthening youth employability, and supporting a vibrant digital ecosystem in the state, PIND held a strategic engagement meeting with the Ibom Innovation Network to explore areas of collaboration aimed at expanding training and employment opportunities for youth in Akwa Ibom State.
Through the meeting and additional networking sessions with private sector actors and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) providers, PIND advanced discussions on:
- Identifying new YEP partners in the ICT sector;
- Increasing access to market-relevant skills development;
- Broadening job linkage pathways for youth across the innovation ecosystem.
These engagements laid the groundwork for a stronger, mutually beneficial relationship between PIND and ecosystem actors working to grow the state’s digital economy.
By promoting the YEP model and expanding partnerships with ICT-focused training centers and employers, PIND continues to scale solutions that help young people transition from vulnerability to opportunity.
