In 2022, TIYE (Technology Initiative for Youth Employability) took a bold step toward tackling one of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges: youth unemployment. In partnership with GRAZAC Academy, we ran a fully free accelerator program designed to equip unemployed and underemployed Nigerian graduates with the digital skills needed to compete in today’s job market. This is the story of why we did it, and what we set out to achieve.
The Problem We Could Not Ignore
Every day, more young Nigerians enter the labour market than there are jobs to absorb them. Research shows that job seekers are sending out more than 20 applications daily — and still coming up empty. The COVID-19 era accelerated the shift toward digital work, raising the bar for what employers expect while leaving many young people without the skills to meet it.
The hard truth is this: it is not just that jobs are scarce. Too many of our youth are not yet equipped for the jobs that do exist. A close look at Nigeria’s digital sector reveals a deep, competency-based skills deficit, a gap between what young people know and what employers actually need.
At TIYE, we asked ourselves a simple but urgent question: if Africa is to rise, can we afford to leave our youth behind? The answer was no.
Our Response — The GRAZAC Accelerator Program
In partnership with GRAZAC Academy, TIYE co-sponsored a free Graduate Accelerator Program targeting unemployed and underemployed Nigerian graduates. The goal was straightforward take young people with potential and, within 4 months, make them employable in the tech industry.
The program delivered:
- Expert-led training across high-demand tech career paths
- Real-world problem solving, with students applying their skills to practical challenges
- Mentorship access, connecting participants with experienced professionals across various fields
- Recruitment support, connecting graduates directly with tech companies for entry-level roles and at least one year of relevant industry experience
Why This Matters
Nigeria’s youth population is one of its greatest assets — but only if that potential is activated. Every young person left untrained and unemployed is not just a personal loss; it is a national one. The tech ecosystem cannot grow without the people to build it.
That is why TIYE’s partnership with GRAZAC was never just about training. It was about creating a pipeline — from classroom to career — that gives young Nigerians a real, fighting chance.
What We Achieved Together
Through this accelerator, TIYE and GRAZAC took a meaningful step toward our shared goal of upskilling at least 1,000 unemployed and underemployed graduates across Nigeria. Participants left not just with technical skills, but with mentorship relationships, portfolio projects, and direct connections to employers — everything needed to take that first step into a tech career.
The Work Continues
The 2022 accelerator was one chapter in a much longer story. At TIYE, we remain committed to building partnerships, sponsoring access, and creating the enabling environments that make Nigerian youth truly job-ready.
Because if we equip our youth, we develop our nation.
TIYE is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering young Africans through digital skills, education technology, and access to quality employment opportunities. Learn more about our work and partnerships at [tiye.org]