World Youth Skills Day: Airtel Trains Over 400 Young Nigerians in Employability, Digital Skills

World Youth Skills Day: Airtel Trains Over 400 Young Nigerians in Employability, Digital Skills

Airtel Nigeria, through the Airtel Africa Foundation, has provided free employability and digital skills training to more than 400 undergraduates, interns and young professionals as part of activities marking the 2026 World Youth Skills Day, reinforcing its commitment to preparing Nigeria's youth for the evolving world of work.

The virtual masterclass, themed "Skills for a Shared Future – The NextGen Advantage," was organised under the Airtel Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), an initiative through which employees volunteer their time and expertise to support education and youth development.

The 90-minute session brought together experienced Airtel professionals who mentored participants on workplace readiness, career development, digital transformation, financial literacy, artificial intelligence, communication and emotional intelligence.

Speaking during the event, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said investing in young people is one of the most effective ways to strengthen Nigeria's future economy.

According to him, the rapidly changing world of work requires young people to possess practical skills, adaptability and the confidence to embrace new technologies.

"The future of work is changing faster than ever before, and success will increasingly belong to those who are equipped with the right skills, the right mindset, and the confidence to adapt. Through our Employee Volunteer Programme, our people are sharing not just knowledge, but real industry experience to help shape careers, unlock opportunities, and prepare the next generation to lead in a digital world," Balsingh said.

Director of Corporate Communications and CSR at Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, who delivered the keynote address titled The Next Gen Advantage, urged participants to embrace continuous learning, problem-solving, artificial intelligence and strong interpersonal skills to remain competitive in the labour market.

He identified five essential actions for building a future-ready career: continuous learning, solving real-world problems, building a strong digital reputation, embracing artificial intelligence and developing human-centred skills such as communication and collaboration.

The programme featured two general sessions. Airtel Nigeria's Director of Human Resources and Administration, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, spoke on the importance of character and professional networking during a session titled Your Network is Your Net Worth.

Participants also received financial management guidance during a session titled Your Money, Your Future, facilitated by Olakunbi Osigbesan, Head of Treasury at Smartcash PSB, who shared practical budgeting and financial discipline strategies.

The masterclass further offered participants the opportunity to join specialised breakout sessions tailored to different career interests.

These included Digital Transformation and Growth, facilitated by General Manager, Digital and Innovation, Oyebowale Akideinde; a CV Clinic and Interview Masterclass led by HR Outsourcing Lead, Chidera Okoye; and a session on Communication and Personal Branding facilitated by Head of Public Relations, Sam Adeoye.

Other sessions focused on the practical use of artificial intelligence, led by IT Governance Executive, Ezenwa Agbanusi, and emotional intelligence in the workplace, facilitated by Airtel Nigeria's Corporate Social Responsibility Lead, Victoria Ndu.

According to Airtel Nigeria, the initiative forms part of its broader commitment to equipping young Nigerians with relevant workplace and digital skills while connecting them directly with industry professionals to improve their employability and prepare them for opportunities in Nigeria's growing digital economy.