Nigerian labourers are under increasing strain because 45% of jobs demand digital capabilities.

Nigerians without digital skills could find themselves stuck in seven years, as data indicates that 45% of occupations will require some sort of digital competence.

The capacity to use digital devices, such computers and smartphones, to search, assess, use, share, and create content is known as digital skills.

According to commissioned research by cloud computing corporation Amazon Web Services (AWS), between 30 and 45 percent of Nigerian occupations will require digital skills by 2030.

This was revealed at a media roundtable in Lagos by AWS Vice President of Global Services Uwem Ukpong, who was just in Nigeria for a meeting with Nigerian government officials.

According to Ukpong, the results showed that Nigeria would need to train more people in order to increase its capacity for digital skills. He claimed that the main topic of discussion during his meeting with Nigerian government representatives was how the nation could participate in AWS’s global plans to provide free training to 29 million people by the year 2025.

Ukpong pointed out that AWS’s investment in Nigeria includes a strong commitment to the development of human capital in addition to technology infrastructure.

AWS has made tremendous progress in educating and improving the skills of the Nigerian workforce, realising the value of skill development in the digital age.

The meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, he added, would be crucial in its scale and potential impact and would create the foundation for a cooperative effort towards digital transformation in Nigeria, given AWS’s commitment to be intimately involved in the country.

He said that Shettima had offered priceless insights and reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s economy while welcoming fresh investment opportunities in innovation and technology.

According to Ukpong, by 2030, between 30 and 45 percent of Nigerian occupations will require digital capabilities, thus building capacity, providing training, and getting people ready for this would be essential.

“I spoke with Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, about the initiatives the government is implementing in Nigeria and how AWS can invest, as we are mandated by our charter to assist and finance developing nations in their efforts to foster talent interoperability.

That concluded our conversation, and as a result, we have scheduled a forum or meeting for January 2024. The process of sitting down with the Minister and asking, “What are the key items in your five-point plan that you want to see executed in 2024?” is known as an executive briefing session or executive visioning session. And how may AWS help you in that regard as an organisation?

Drawing on his Nigerian background and wealth of expertise leading technical projects throughout Africa, Ukpong conveyed his sincere appreciation for the kind welcome from Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and the whole team.

He underlined the importance of this high-level participation as a significant advancement in closely collaborating with the Nigerian government to fulfil its pledge of a revitalised and optimistic future.

Meeting Vice President Kashim Shettima of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and talking about digital transformation initiatives was an honour and a privilege. In addition to highlighting several important points, the Vice President reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to bolster the economy and encourage fresh investment possibilities under this administration. I express my gratitude to Ibrahim Hadejia, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and the entire team for their gracious hospitality. I am eager to collaborate closely with the Nigerian government in fulfilling its reaffirmed commitment,” stated Ukpong.

The AWS CEO went on to claim that cloud adoption has a substantial and far-reaching economic impact in Nigeria, citing a study by Telecom Advisory Services that was funded by AWS and showed that it added an astonishing N82.9 billion to the country’s GDP in 2021.

He says this has an influence on the entire Nigerian economy, not just those who directly use AWS’s technology, demonstrating the revolutionary potential of cloud computing.

The innovations and investments made by AWS in Nigeria point to a strategy change towards a cloud-first future. AWS’s long-term vision and commitment to Nigeria are highlighted by significant achievements like the establishment of Nigeria’s First CloudFront Edge Location and the introduction of Amazon Q. These programmes are carefully planned to influence Nigeria’s future technological environment rather than being reactive measures to meet immediate digital needs, according to Ukpong.