A 25-square-meter learning space equipped with innovative digital equipment has been launched.
Part of the BeMINT_Nigeria training project, offers hands-on Information Technology (IT) training and entrepreneurial skills to high-school graduates in Lagos. With a focus on female participation, this 12-week intensive program is expected to unlock economic opportunities for 400 youth (aged 18 to 24) from low-income families.
BeMINT (MINT is the German abbreviation for STEM: Mathematics, IT, science and technology) is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the internationally operative foundation Siemens Stiftung and Nigerian NGO Empowering Africans through Education Initiative (EAE).
This three-year training and internship program equips school graduates with practical and digital skills crucial to thrive in the 21st century characterized by technological advancements anddigitization.
“While the digital revolution has transformed societies and economies, it has also widened gender and social inequalities. The United Nations estimates that women account for only 22% of STEM jobs. To narrow this disparity, BeMINT_Nigeria encourages female participation and eases access to digital learning for youth from underserved communities. The user-centric training project advances inclusive economic participation and fosters crucial 21stcentury skills among the next generation of Nigerians”, says Dr. Nina Smidt, Siemens Stiftung’s CEO and Spokesperson of the Board.
At the heart of this project is the new makerspace that provides a hub for educational advancement and community engagement. It offers easy access to 3D technologies, tools and materials for the participants to realize their initial ideas and prototypes. Additionally, they benefit from free access to “Hours of Engineering”, a cloud-based software from Siemens Digital Industries - offering an intuitive introduction to the world of computer-aided design and encouraging problem-solving thinking.
At the launch, the German Consul General in Lagos Mr. Weert Börner said,
“Investments in digital education are the key to economic change. Facilitating digital infrastructure and improving training opportunities that broaden economic avenues for young Nigerians, especially young women, is a core element of Nigerian-German cooperation. 70% of the country’s population is under 35, providing a unique basis for boosting Nigeria’s digital economy.”
Over the course of the next couple of years, nine batches consisting of 45 participants each are introduced to three major focus areas: IT, vocational orientation, and entrepreneurship.Each participant receives comprehensive, multi-disciplinary training, gaining practical experience in working with digital platforms along with securing insights into Artificial Intelligence tools to enhance their market competitiveness.
“We are building on the success of the project's first phase, launched in 2022, which has produced confident and well-trained alumni - now working at reputed international companies like Google and Microsoft, as well as Nigerian SMEs".