By peterside Rejoice
The European Union (EU) has concluded a €750,000 Digital Skills Promotion Programme aimed at expanding access to digital skills and economic opportunities for women, hard-to-reach youth, and persons with disabilities in Borno and Yobe states.
The three-year programme, implemented from 2023 to 2026, focused on reducing the digital gender divide and tackling digital exclusion in fragile and conflict-affected communities across North-East Nigeria. The closing ceremony, held on 4 February 2026 in Maiduguri, brought together representatives of the European Union, implementing partners, civil society organisations, and state government officials to assess progress and reflect on lessons learned.
Funded by the European Union and implemented by ZOA International, the initiative targeted 30 communities across Borno and Yobe states, with a strong emphasis on inclusive, people-centred digital transformation. The programme sought to strengthen community-level capacity, support grassroots civil society organisations, and improve access to digital tools and skills for marginalised groups.
Speaking at the event, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, said the programme demonstrated how targeted digital investments can drive inclusive growth, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
He noted that digital inclusion is critical to resilience, innovation, and meaningful participation in today’s economy, stressing that access to digital skills is essential for stability, opportunity, and long-term recovery for marginalised communities.
De Luca added that under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the union remains committed to supporting practical digital initiatives that respond to local realities and translate into viable enterprises, job creation, and sustainable economic resilience within host communities.
Providing an overview of the programme’s outcomes, ZOA Programme Manager, Godwin Dominic, said the initiative recorded measurable achievements across its target areas.
According to him, 18,193 individuals were trained in basic and intermediate digital skills, 32 IT hubs were established across participating communities, and a Digital Literacy Working Group was formed to strengthen coordination and sustainability beyond the lifespan of the project.
He also disclosed that six schools were supported with access to IT services, helping to expand opportunities for digital learning and early skills development for students in underserved areas of the two states.
Representing the Borno State Government, the Executive Secretary of the Borno Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), Engr. Mohammed Kabir Wanori, commended the European Union and ZOA International for implementing a programme that aligns with the state’s development priorities and digital transformation agenda.
He said the initiative has strengthened opportunities for women and youth to acquire relevant digital competencies and participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
As the programme draws to a close, partners reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the digital infrastructure, skills, and institutional capacity developed through the initiative, ensuring that its gains continue to support inclusive economic participation and community resilience in North-East Nigeria.
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