What is the most effective way to empower young people?

Short answer: Teach them to code.
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No doubt, getting a job in Nigeria these days has become almost as hard as passing a camel through the eye of a needle.

There are simply way too many graduates and not enough jobs to go around.

Does it then mean that there is no hope of earning a decent living as a youth living in Nigeria?

No, alas, there is hope…..

There is one sector that has yielded the most positive results for everyone involved. That sector is none other than the technology sector.

It's no secret that a career in technology is one of the most lucrative career options available today.

According to a survey by Techpoint.ng, the average salary for software developers in Nigeria is ₦275,980/month.

With dedication and focus, in two years, it's possible to command up to ₦500K/month or more as a senior developer. There's even a saying that a job in tech is now the new oil company job.

Software developers are making waves within and outside the country. Hardly a tech conference happens anywhere in the world where a Nigerian developer isn't invited to speak.

What's more, techies also find it easier to relocate outside Nigeria (to greener pastures?). Several Nigerian techies got offered jobs outside Nigeria (Europe and America) last year alone.

Companies like booking.com and other notable tech companies went on massive recruitment drives in Nigeria last year, a trend that is expected to increase.

The reality is that numerous countries have more than $10 billion (cumulatively) in unclaimed tech wages also due to this lack of talent to fill roles. Software engineering skills, particularly in web and app development, are consistently in high demand. For skilled tech professionals, the world is their proverbial oyster.

At the beginning of 2017, the Nigerian tech ecosystem had a valuation of $2 billion, making it the largest in Africa.

Also last year, the federal government budgeted over nine billion naira to spend on foreign software, enough to create 2000 well-paid local technology jobs.

With well-honed coding skills, success is all but guaranteed in the Nigerian and global markets.

While youth unemployment in Nigeria is 45.65% and most industries are laying off workers, the tech industry in Nigeria has a different problem, it is struggling to find skilled employees to fill vacancies.

Technology companies are reporting extreme difficulties recruiting talent with relevant technical skills.

Numerous countries have more than $10 billion (cumulatively) in unclaimed tech wages also due to this lack of talent to fill roles.

Software engineering skills, particularly in web and app development, are consistently in high demand. For skilled tech professionals, the world is their proverbial oyster.

The good news is that with focus and dedication, anyone can become an employable software developer after only a few weeks of training.

The New Economy Skills Accelerator, NESA by Makers www.nesa.makers.ng is banking on this to equip young Nigerians with the skills that enable them to participate in today’s digital economy.

They specialize in preparing students, unemployed graduates, part-time and full-time professionals for rewarding careers in tech or high-growth entrepreneurial activities.

They achieve this by ensuring their trainees learn the most relevant software engineering skills face-to-face from practicing software development professionals while helping them build a portfolio of relevant work. A background in computer science or related discipline is not required.

Some program benefits include:
⚡ Learning relevant software development skills (HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and PHP/SQL, ReactJS, Laravel, and Bootstrap)
⚡ Job placement with NESA hiring partners upon successful program completion
⚡ Access to a pool of mentors around the world.

They're currently accepting applications for cohort #4 of their Full-Stack Web Development Training Program.

If you are interested in starting a lucrative career in tech, or know someone who share this with them: www.nesa.makers.ng/apply

Even if you're not interested, you probably know someone who will benefit from this program. Think about everyone you know who has been doing nothing for a while and share this with them. They'll thank you for it.

For information about tuition cost: [url]nesa.makers.ng/program[/url]

Use discount code CODEYEAR2018 when applying to get 10% off the cost of tuition.