The European Union (EU) has concluded a three-year digital skills programme in North-East Nigeria, training more than 18,000 people and expanding digital inclusion in conflict-affected communities across Borno and Yobe states.
The €750,000 initiative, implemented by ZOA International between 2023 and 2026, targeted 30 communities with a focus on women, hard-to-reach youth and persons with disabilities. The programme sought to address digital exclusion as a pathway to resilience, livelihoods and long-term recovery in the region.
A close-out ceremony held in Maiduguri on February 4, 2026, brought together EU officials, state authorities, civil society organisations and development partners to review achievements and discuss sustainability plans.
According to project figures, more than 18,000 beneficiaries received digital skills training, while 32 community IT hubs were established to improve access to technology. In addition, six schools were equipped with IT facilities to support digital learning, and a Digital Literacy Working Group was created to strengthen coordination and ensure continuity beyond the project’s lifespan.
The Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, said the programme demonstrates the impact of targeted digital investments when aligned with local needs.
“This project shows that digital inclusion delivers real results,” De Luca said, noting that empowering communities through skills and infrastructure is critical to inclusive economic growth, especially in conflict-affected regions.
He added that the initiative aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which prioritises people-centred digital transformation capable of translating skills into jobs, entrepreneurship and long-term economic stability at the community level.
Providing an overview of implementation, ZOA Programme Manager Godwin Dominic said the project went beyond training to build systems designed for sustainability.
“Alongside training 18,193 people, we focused on establishing IT hubs, school-based digital access and coordination platforms that will continue to support skills development after the programme ends,” he said.
The Borno State Government welcomed the initiative, describing it as complementary to state ICT development priorities. Representing the government, the Executive Secretary of the Borno Information and Communication Technology Development Agency (BICTDA), Engr. Mohammed Kabir Wanori, said the programme expanded opportunities for women and youth while strengthening existing ICT policies and strategies.
As the programme formally concludes, partners have committed to sustaining the digital infrastructure, community networks and institutional capacity built over the past three years. The EU said future efforts will focus on ensuring that digital skills acquired by beneficiaries translate into income generation, entrepreneurship and improved economic participation.
In a region still recovering from years of conflict and displacement, the programme underscores the growing role of digital inclusion as both a development and stabilisation tool, connecting marginalised communities to opportunities within the wider digital economy.
