Easybuy, a leading smartphone financing company in Africa, has partnered with WAWUAfrica to provide vocational training opportunities for 10 million Nigerian youths and women while creating 10,000 sales jobs for programme beneficiaries.
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The partnership was formalised in Lagos through the signing of an agreement that designates Easybuy as the official Device Financing and Lifestyle Partner for the initiative.
The programme is being implemented by WAWUAfrica with support from the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI). Other stakeholders backing the initiative include the World Bank, the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Federal Ministries of Youth Development, Women Affairs, and Trade and Investment.
According to the organisers, the initiative is designed to address unemployment, digital exclusion, and economic empowerment challenges by equipping participants with practical skills and access to income-generating opportunities.
Participants will receive training in five major areas, including digital and information technology skills, financial literacy, creative arts and design, business and entrepreneurship, as well as hospitality and tourism.
A key component of the programme focuses on improving access to smartphones, which organisers identified as one of the major barriers preventing millions of Nigerians from participating fully in the digital economy.
Despite growing digital opportunities, many young Nigerians who complete online training programmes are often unable to secure jobs or earn income because they lack the devices required to access digital platforms and remote work opportunities.
Through the partnership, Easybuy will provide eligible participants with access to smartphones through flexible installment payment plans, enabling them to utilise the skills acquired during training.
Speaking on the initiative, Easybuy Nigeria’s Sales Director, Abdul-Gaffar Adesoji, said smartphones have become essential tools for education, employment, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
“Smartphones have become essential for participation in today’s economy, yet millions of Nigerians still face barriers to accessing the devices they need,” he said.
Adesoji added that Easybuy plans to offer up to 10,000 sales and marketing positions to qualified graduates of the programme, creating a direct pathway from training to employment.
Industry stakeholders say the initiative comes at a critical time, as digital exclusion continues to affect millions of Nigerians.
Available statistics indicate that more than 120 million Nigerians remain without reliable access to the internet, largely due to the high cost of smartphones and digital devices. Financial exclusion also remains a major challenge, with millions of adults lacking access to formal banking services.
WAWUAfrica Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Lennox, described the initiative as a comprehensive empowerment model designed to connect training, technology, and income generation.
According to him, beneficiaries will not only receive vocational and digital skills training but will also gain access to smartphones and employment opportunities that can help them translate those skills into sustainable livelihoods.
“We are ensuring that participants are not just trained, but fully equipped to participate meaningfully in today’s digital economy,” Lennox said.
He explained that the programme adopts a “closed-loop system” in which participants receive practical training, gain access to digital devices, and are linked to opportunities that can generate income.
The initiative has emerged as one of the most ambitious skills-development programmes announced in Nigeria in recent years, given its target of reaching 10 million beneficiaries across the country.
Observers note that the programme’s broad coalition of partners, including government agencies, international organisations, and professional institutions, could strengthen its implementation and nationwide reach.
However, experts also point out that the programme’s success will ultimately depend on effective execution, sustained funding, and the ability to deliver measurable outcomes for participants.
If successfully implemented, the partnership could help bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, expand financial inclusion, create employment opportunities, and empower millions of young people and women with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
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