Darey.io and XTERNS.ai have officially opened a new tech hub at Yaba, Lagos, to train tech enthusiasts and entrepreneurs with world-class digital skills, connecting them directly to global opportunities.
Launched on Saturday, March 15, 2025, the co-working space was built in collaboration with the federal government’s Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program.
Over 100,000 learners are already engaged, and with a vision to train millions of tech talents, this initiative is an aggressive drive to leverage a Proof-of-Skills Hiring model for digital economic growth across the country.
According to the keynote speaker, Francis Sani, technical adviser for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Capital to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the country has the largest youth population in Africa and a median age of 16 years, compared to 38 in the U.S. and 46 in Japan. This is an unmatched advantage in the drive for global tech competitiveness.
However, access to quality training and employment pathways has been a major challenge. “We have the talent, we have the ambition, but we must scale up digital skills to compete globally,” he said.
The XTERNS Hub aims to bridge the gap between learning and earning, ensuring that graduates are not just trained but also integrated into the workforce.
Dare Olufunmilayo, founder of Darey.io, said: “No one has to wait to be hired; our system ensures talent proves itself before stepping into an interview.
“Thousands of Nigerians have started their careers through Darey.io, working for top global companies, launching startups, and creating groundbreaking solutions. Xterns.ai is our next big leap—where we don’t just train talents; we integrate them directly into the workforce through our Proof-of-Skills Hiring model.
This is why today’s theme—Tech & Tea: Brewing Nigeria’s Technology Innovation Future—is so important. It reflects our belief that, just like brewing the perfect tea, building a thriving digital economy requires the right ingredients: talent, innovation, and collaboration,” Olufunmilayo explained.
One of the limitations to digital innovation in Nigeria has been infrastructure, particularly internet access. However, Nigeria is currently working to ensure a fibre optic uprising.
“We are currently at about 35,000 kilometres of fibre. The $2 billion broadband expansion project will add 90,000 kilometres more in the next two years,” Sani revealed. “This will position Nigeria as one of the top 10 countries globally in internet penetration.”
This will also help connect remote areas, ensuring that tech talent from across the country can participate in the digital economy.
Tech Without Tools?
Another challenge has been hardware accessibility. Many aspiring tech talents lack basic laptops, which are now priced at an average of ₦500,000.
To address this, Darey.io is launching the Dare Olufunmilayo Human Capital Foundation, aimed at providing laptops and stipends to learners.
“We need the private sector to step up,” Olufunmilayo stated. “Government alone cannot do this. We must collaborate to give young people the tools they need to succeed.”
AI, Automation, and the Job Market
With AI, the nature of work is changing. Olufunmilayo and Sani stressed that Nigeria needs to move from being a technology consumer to a producer.
“The world will look very different in five years,” Sani stated. “This is another Industrial Revolution. The question is; will Nigeria be on the side of consumers or creators?”
To place the country on the right side of history, XTERNS.ai is incorporating AI-powered project-based learning to ensure graduates gain real-world experience rather than just theoretical knowledge.
With 5000 learners trained in four years and a 100,000+ talent pipeline already in motion, Darey.io and XTERNS.ai are scaling operations with speed.
The next target is 3 million trained professionals, a goal that will require government support, private sector investment, and international collaboration.
“We are not out of the race; we are exactly where we need to be,” Sani said. “Nigeria has the ambition, the talent, and now, the infrastructure. This is our moment.”
