Traditionally sent out to seek religious knowledge, millions now scramble for daily survival on the streets, invisible to most yet painfully present to themselves and their families.

This entrenched social dilemma reflects not personal failure, but a persistent failure of opportunity. New Horizons Nigeria’s Almajiri-to-Tech initiative (estimated to cost over ₦50 million) is changing that story.

At its core, the Almajiri-to-Tech scheme is simple yet profound: a 90-day, fully-funded, hands-on technical skills training designed to take children off the street and into the skilled workforce.

Participants are immersed in practical learning, from computer and mobile repairs to sustainable electronic practices, alongside mindset reorientation that teaches discipline, citizenship, patriotism, and the dignity of work. All essentials for responsible adulthood.

This initiative is not a quick fix. It is a reclaiming of human dignity, reframing abandonment into opportunity, neglect into investment, and hopelessness into hope.

It recognizes that no child is born worthless, only underserved by a system that too often equates survival with street begging instead of structured opportunity.

Learning from the World: Human Capital as the Engine of Transformation

Nation-building is not a serendipitous event. Throughout history, countries that have risen from poverty and underdevelopment did so by intentionally investing in their people.

In East Asia, China’s focus on vocational and technical education has been a pillar of its economic rise. Strategic investment in skill training, closely linked to industry needs, has helped deliver millions of competent workers whose talents support innovation and productivity, expanding incomes and sustaining rapid growth.

Similarly, Japan and Germany have long placed technical education at the heart of workforce excellence, integrating vocational pathways with industrial excellence so that young people find dignity and opportunity in skills that drive economic competitiveness.

These systems don’t just educate, they empower.

In the United States, too, apprenticeship programs and workplace training historically helped millions transition into meaningful careers, bridging education and employment with real economic impact. Skills, not just degrees, became pathways to prosperity and security.

These global templates share a common lesson: nations that develop robust human capital unleash unparalleled creative and economic energy. The strategy is not merely technical, it is profoundly human.

Why Almajiri-for-Tech Matters for Nigeria

Nigeria stands at a pivotal point. With an estimated 15 million Almajiris, and growing, the choices we make today will define our tomorrow.

For too long, reactive security measures have dominated public discourse, deploying force to manage symptoms rather than resolve underlying causes of unrest, poverty and crime.

New Horizons Nigeria’ programme shifts the paradigm: it recognizes that idle and disenfranchised youth are far more fragile and vulnerable than inherently dangerous. What they need is access; access to skills, purpose, economic inclusion, and dignity.

Here’s how this initiative delivers transformation:

1. Tackling insecurity at its root:

When young people lack opportunity, the void left behind is fertile ground for criminality, banditry, and recruitment into violent networks. Training them into skilled workers changes that narrative, reducing vulnerability and promoting peaceful livelihoods.

2. Building a tech-ready workforce:

With digital and technical skills now central to the global economy, preparing youth for the future is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.

Through practical training, these young Nigerians are not just employable, they become part of the country’s competitive creative economy.

3. Human dignity over survival:

By equipping individuals with skills that earn income and respect, the initiative speaks to the human heart.

It transforms self-perception from mere survivor to contributor, nurturing confidence, agency, and aspiration.

4. Economic growth and productivity:

Experts suggest that empowering Almajiris could potentially add billions to Nigeria’s GDP, a reminder that when people are productive, the entire nation gains.

A Call to Action: Scaling What Works

We at Techeconomy vote yes to the Almajiri-to-Tech initiative by New Horizons Nigeria. In fact, it should not be a lonely effort, rather adopted as a national movement, a convergence of government, private sector, civil society, faith organisations, and citizens, aimed at scaling human potential across every community.

Mr. Tim Akano, the initiator and chief implementor of this initiative deserves national commendation and all the support he needs to ensure this is achieved.

Investing in young Nigerians is not charity, it is strategic national security and economic policy. It is a testimony to what Nigeria can become when skills replace streets, dignity replaces despair, and possibility replaces neglect.

If human capital is the currency of progress, then, we recommend Nigeria must mint it with intention, courage, and compassion.

The Almajiri-for-Tech initiative isn’t just a programme, it’s a promise of what’s possible: a generation of empowered, skilled, hopeful young Nigerians ready to shape the future.

This is not merely transformation, it is reclamation of our collective destiny.

Among CompTia most popular certifications are Security plus (S+), Hardware (A+), Network (N+) among others. New Horizons was commended by CompTia’s EMEA Senior Vice president, Mr Jason Moss for meeting and exceeding expectations in sales and services

For New Horizons Nigeria and the CEO, Tim Akano, the CompTia awards would be the number 307 national, Continental and international awards to be received by the company and Tim Akano the Managing Director for excellence in bridging the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world in the last twenty years.

New Horizons is the Africa’s most Awarded ICT  Technical training company.

In a glittering ceremony held at The Piazza Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, CompTIA on the 9th of October 2025- the world’s leading vendor-neutral IT certification organization honored New Horizons  Nigeria with the prestigious CompTIA Africa Emerging Partner of the Year in Academic Delivery award.

This recognition marked another milestone in New Horizons Nigeria’s journey of empowering individuals and institutions through cutting-edge technology and hands-on training.

New Horizons Nigeria is the country’s foremost ICT training and certification company that offers cutting-edge skills development in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, cloud computing, Full stack software development, Digital Marketing, Project Management and more.

With partnerships across global IT certification bodies, New Horizons is committed to raising a new generation of tech-savvy leaders for Africa.

The organization yearly, trains and certifies over 100,000 students across Nigerian universities and high schools, in order to position them for success in today’s digital economy.

In a bid to break financial barriers and promote inclusive learning, New Horizons Nigeria also provides scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% to over 20,000 students annually, with a special focus on members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Recently, New Horizons Nigeria adopted the Federal School of the Blinds, Oshodi Lagos, equipped the computer laboratory with laptops and teaching equipment, attached a certified trainer who herself is visually impaired as an instructor, drawing her salaries from New Horizons to train other visually impaired students all free (about 100 visually impaired students were offered 100% scholarships) to acquire  relevant ICT skills that will make them to be financially independent of charity-oriented existence.

Similarly, New Horizons Nigeria had awarded over 1000 students of Obafemi Awololo university 1000% scholarships to study Artificial intelligence and Digital Marketing between 2023-2025.

The  CompTia awards event, brought together over 400 CompTIA partners and stakeholders from around the world.

Among the distinguished guests was Mr. Akano Timothy Olukayode, Managing Director of New Horizons Nigeria, who attended as an honored invitee in recognition of the company’s remarkable contributions to technology education and capacity-building across Africa.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement and pride as industry leaders gathered to celebrate innovation and excellence.

CompTIA’s executives commended New Horizons Nigeria for its innovative academic programs, dedicated commitment to international certification standards, and far-reaching impact in advancing ICT skills across Nigeria and the continent.

Mr. Akano in his acceptance remarks, expressed deep appreciation to CompTIA for the recognition, and emphasized that the award symbolized not just a celebration of past accomplishments but also a renewed call to serve.

He reaffirmed New Horizons Nigeria’s commitment to bridging technology skills gaps, particularly within underserved communities, while expanding access to world-class IT education across Africa.

This recognition carries profound significance for New Horizons Nigeria. CompTIA, known globally for its vendor-neutral and rigorous certification standards, lends strong credibility to the company’s consistent drive for excellence.

This award further highlights New Horizons Nigeria’s growing influence as a leader in academic delivery, professional training, and workforce development within the African ICT ecosystem.

Also, beyond recognition, the event also provided a platform for strategic networking and collaboration. With high-level executives, government representatives, and global partners in attendance, the event opened new channels for partnerships that could fuel innovation, investment, and policy support for digital education across the region.

As New Horizons Nigeria looks ahead, this honour serves as both validation and motivation. It sets a higher standard for the organization’s future initiatives in curriculum development, outreach, and regional expansion, thereby reinforcing its mission to build a tech-empowered Africa capable of competing and thriving in the global digital economy.

It has consistently demonstrated excellence in education and research, and has been recognized as Nigeria’s best university for three consecutive years.

Afe Babalola University has entered into a strategic partnership with New Horizons Nigeria to integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skill sets into its academic curriculum.

This collaboration aims to empower ABUAD students with globally relevant competencies in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, 3D Technology, and the Metaverse, Web 3.0, Full Stack, Cyber Security among others.

By embedding these cutting-edge technologies into its programs, ABUAD reinforces its commitment to producing graduates who are not only job-ready but also poised to be innovators and wealth creators in the global tech ecosystem.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, and Mr. Tim Akano, CEO of New Horizons Nigeria.

The University Bursar Pastor Dupe Babatola, and Mr. Muyiwa Oladimeji, the Deputy Director of ICT were also present at this meeting.

According to Prof. Olarinde, she stated that the partnership aligns with ABUAD’s vision of fostering innovation and excellence and by integrating 4IR skills into the academic curriculum, students are being prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce and to drive technological advancement.

Also, Mr. Akano asserted that “New Horizons is proud to collaborate with ABUAD, an institution that shares its commitment to technological empowerment.

Together, we will provide students with the tools and certifications necessary to excel in today’s digital world. It could be recalled that in the first three global industrial revolutions, Africa was not present at the parties of Agric revolution of the 17th century, Industrial revolution of the 18th century, and Information Communication revolution of the 20th century, Africa got late to the party.

This explains the large-scale hunger, poverty, and diseases that Africa is battling with today. We are in a new era, the age of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

AGI will determine the trajectory of every profession, going forward. Regardless of whatever course or profession one chooses, there is a component of AGI in it that will decide who is a modern lawyer or obsolete lawyer, who is a modern Doctor or Obsolete Doctor, who is a modern Engineer or obsolete engineer, and who is a modern art student or obsolete art student.

Any university today that produce graduates without relevant 4IR skills and certifications attached during their undergrad years is producing obsolete graduates.

The four major global challenges confronting humanity are not permanent problems but rather  TECHNICAL/Technological problems. A case in point was smallpox, which had killed over 400 million people worldwide.

However, when Edward Jenner invented a vaccine, using technology, smallpox got killed itself. Therefore, all the key problems in the world today: hunger, poverty, disease, Climate Crisis, Youth Unemployment, are all technological problems that need technological solutions.

This is why ABUAD’s partnership with New Horizons is necessary, critical and urgent with a view to ensuring that going forward, the ABUAD graduates have what it takes to compete with the Chinese, Americans and Japanese when it comes to 4.0IR innovations”.

This strategic partnership with New Horizons Nigeria signifies a pivotal step in ABUAD’s mission to remain at the forefront of educational innovation, and to ensure that its students are well-equipped to navigate and lead in the evolving technological landscape.

New Horizons Nigeria is Africa’s largest ICT training organization with over 200 training centres in various universities, high schools, and retail locations across Nigeria, empowering over 100,000 students yearly. New Horizons Nigeria is a franchise of New Horizons International, the world’s largest ICT training institute with Head Office in California and offices in 90 countries worldwide.

The institution pioneered the integration of International ICT certification into the Nigeria academic curricular twenty years ago and some of the students that passed through New Horizons training in their respective universities are managing global corporations today in Silicon valley and working with global IT giants like Microsoft, MasterCard, Oracle, Google and Amazon among others.

Olayinka lost her sight completely at the age of two to measles and also lost her mother at birth. Despite these challenges, she remained determined and worked hard to complete her education, earning a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Benin in 2024.

She met with Mr Tim during his courtesy visit to the new NYSC state coordinator and was deeply moved by her resilience and as part of his commitment to empowering individuals through technology, he decided to support Olayinka by providing her with ICT skills.

New Horizons, an ICT institute awards over 20,000 ICT scholarships to students annually, some of which cover 100% of tuition and this initiative has been ongoing for the past 15 years.

The organisation is currently providing Olayinka with essential ICT skills, with plans to transfer her to a visually impaired school in Oshodi, to train the student with the skills she has learnt.

The company will not only provide the school with necessary resources but will also pay Olayinka’s salary for the rest of her life.

In the same vein, the Tim Akano Foundation recently launched by Mr Tim Akano has embarked on several projects.

One of the projects was the renovation of Baptist Day School, Oluponna, which was the primary school Mr Tim attended.

The foundation provided the school with a borehole; secured fence and writing materials and each of the 300 students also received a pair of uniforms.

Furthermore, the Tim Akano Foundation also established NYSC+ (PLUS), a scheme designed to mentor selected corps members from the time they arrive at the NYSC camp through their one-year mandatory service.

The program assists them in securing quality jobs or gaining university admission for further education after their service year.

In conclusion, Mr. Tim Akano in 2024 personally mentored 10 NYSC corps members, and all 10 have since been gainfully employed.

The scheme aims to groom the next generation of Nigerian leaders by equipping them with quality skills, the right vision, strong leadership traits, and a deep love for their country.

The forum with the broad theme: ‘Governance,  Policy,  Innovation and Future Economy’ which was held at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel,  GRA Ikeja Lagos on Thursday 22nd August,  2024 was part of event to commemorate DigiVation at 25th anniversary.

The Lead Speaker at the event Tim Akano, managing director and chief executive officer New Horizons, a global renowned training and capacity building organisation set the tone for the conversation.

Akano gave insights to Nigeria and indeed Africa’s urgent need to rework its priorities to move from the era of natural resources to knowledge resources through research, development and implementation.

“In fact, time is against us to meet up with the rest of the progressive world,  China, Singapore,  India, the United States of America and a host of Western economies have made significant progress in their quest to strategically reap the benefits of innovation with consistent policy approach,  structured implementation plans and visionary leadership ” he stated.

Akano added that today’s educational curriculum in Nigeria was unsuitable to the future of work or a sustainable economy given the obvious lacuna that makes it hyper theoretical and unsuitable for the presen digital revolution sweeping across the modern world.

The Moderator of the Panel Session Hilary Damissah brought to the fore his analytical media depth on the topic: “Leveraging Policy and Governance to Accelerate Innovation for a Sustainable Future” he interrogated the speakers and extracted their thoughts on the subject matter eliciting very enriching conversation.

In his submission, Peter Ukeme of Xpress Payment Solutions stated that innovation was only possible where policy remains consistent and regulatory apparatus of government is designed not to stiffle innovative solutions and services.

On his part, Timothy Ajayi who represented the Director General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research  Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr Jumai Adamu Tutuwa argued that building a sustainable future is dependent on better funding of Research and Development with practical commitment to execution and crucial linkages between the town and gown which represents the industry and the academic institutions.

“Nigeria doesn’t lack policies for development, the biggest challenge is implementation and continuity of good ones while we also need to wholistically avoid replicating models from other parts of the world with specific and careful consideration for our peculiar environment,” he concluded.

While sharing his views, veteran Nollywood actor and Panelist at the Summit, Yemi Solade, submitted that the invasion of technology has made everyone a part of the new media.

He cited how social media can earn a person a job, fame and skills overnight through content creations and the likes.

Even in the movie industry, Mr Yemi examined how the days of manual marketing became eroded and movies are now being marketed directly through the aid of social media.

He submitted that, ‘the future economy is here to stay and is driven mainly by the youths or the GenZs as a lot of Nigerians are no longer waiting for the government.

However, he expressed reservations in some aspects ‘My fear is the erosion of culture as being engineered by the GenZs, most of them lack respect for elders, for constituted authorities, for royalties and even for clergies,’ Mr Solade stated.

He blamed the attitude decadence of Youths on the family unit, especially for parents who do not have tangible time for parenting their wards.

Notwithstanding, Mr Solade appraised and encouraged youths who have used Social Media to become better persons and urged others who are not getting it right to learn from those who are getting it right.

Adding his voice from the United States, a virtual speaker and innovator Engr Fisayo, founder of eSMint called for concerted efforts for Nigeria and Africa to develop solutions reflecting our uniqueness with global market and appeal.

It noted that it was the only way the continent can stand tall rather than just being a consumer centric people.

In his conclusion, Hilary Damissah the project coordinator reiterated the importance of the event adding that sub-saharan Africa faces critical challenges for digital development, including underdeveloped digital infrastructure, lack of assessable and affordable connectivity, a wide digital gender gap, lack of requisite skills for digitally enabled economy and adequate regulatory and policy environment.

He expressed optimism that critical to tackling these issues and challenges was the need to driving policies that will shape the future.

DigiVation Future Summit is a multi sectoral event that brings together people from diverse background to discuss issues reshaping today and future economies.

In addition to the MOU, the ICT firm also donated about 1,000 ICT courses and a new learning portal to support the Skills and Entrepreneurship Department (SAED) during the commissioning of its ultra-modern NYSC ICT centre in Abuja to mark 50 years of the establishment of NYSC.

In his appreciation, Brig General YD Ahmed, the Director-General, NYSC, thanked New Horizons Nigeria’s CEO, Mr. Tim Akano, for his support of NYSC concerning the empowerment of youths in the area of ICT.

According to Ahmed,

The objective of this administration is to contribute to the overall national efforts at addressing the problem of youth unemployment. In this regard, management recognises the imperative of strengthening our working relationship with worthy partners such as New Horizons to enlist their technical and material support.

The NYSC DG believes that New Horizons is one of the largest IT solution providers in Nigeria. “The scheme is glad to be associated with the company; no doubt, your cutting-edge training programmes will enhance the value and employability skills of our corps members.

“Under this MoU, we shall put into effective use the ICT sections of the NYSC Skill Centres in Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, Ogun, and Yobe States, as well as others, for the benefits of both the corps members and members of the host communities.

Ahmed concluded by assuring everyone that the management will play their part by providing the enabling environment for the smooth implementation of this partnership.

“We called on corps members to avail themselves of this training opportunity to enhance their chances of becoming self-reliant and contributing to the growth of our national economy,” Ahmed said.

On his part, Mr. Tim Akano, the MD/CEO of New Horizons Nigeria, said the company donated 1000 ICT courseware and a new learning portal to support the SAEED empowerment Initiatives) to celebrate NYSC at 50 years.

He noted that today’s job market is looking for graduate who are digitally literate, able to solve problems and meet the needs of organisations, contribute to their bottomless and help scale companies.

Akano further stated that the 21st century organisations are demanding more from their employees and the only way to get through is to be equipped with the ICT tools and services. 

At the commissioning of the ultra-modern NYSC ICT center built by NYSC, the special guest of honor, former Head of State, Gen (rtd) Dr Yakubu Gowon urged the corps members to use the ICT books, the portal and the newly commissioned ICT centre to improve their skills, employability and contribute positively to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy and human capital.

The partnership aims to boost youth employability by making them industry ready for the Project Economy. New Horizons will roll out PMI’s products to universities and corporates. 

New Horizons Nigeria is a franchise of the US-based New Horizons International – the world’s number one ICT training institution.

New Horizons International is reputed for its global impact, with offices in 85 countries, a daily student attendance of over four million, and the first choice of the top Fortune 500 companies for their training needs.

As part of the agreement, New Horizons, a Premier Level Authorised Training Partner for PMI, will roll out Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) to 19,000 university students.

The youth will benefit in multiple ways, one, access a curriculum which is in line with industry requirements and secondly, be job-ready for several project management-oriented employment opportunities unlocked by the Project Economy. 

PMI believes that the future of work is project-based, and teams will deliver on values and strategic objectives.

Careers will increasingly revolve around a portfolio of projects rather than a bulleted list of static job responsibilities.

More exploratory projects will require different methodologies and frameworks, requiring project managers to adopt the most appropriate methods, management styles, and thinking.

Globally, the value of project-oriented economic activity over the decade is likely to reach $20 trillion.

PMI’s Talent Gap report predicts that the number of jobs requiring project management-oriented skills from economic growth and retirement rates will create the global need for 25 million new project professionals by 2030, meaning 2.3 million project managers will need to fill project management-oriented roles every year.

During this decade, Sub-Saharan Africa will witness a 40% growth with project management-oriented employment opportunities considered the largest globally. 

George Asamani, Business Development Lead, Africa, PMI, says, “This partnership is very strategic as New Horizons will deliver courses relevant to many industries and sectors driving Nigeria’s growth. When businesses compete for these skills, Nigerians can expect better employability prospects and remuneration.”

“Our certifications are globally recognised, which means Nigerian youth will also be able to tap into the burgeoning remote work market.” 

New Horizons’ goal is to get as many Nigerians as possible trained on eight core PMI certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), Programme Management Professional (PgMP), Project Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP), Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) and Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA). 

“The labour market in Nigeria is characterised by a significant mismatch between skills demanded by industry and those possessed by the youth. We see this across the continent and is not limited to Nigeria. We know what tomorrow needs; hence we decided to partner with PMI to bring training and education to the youth that is relevant in the contemporary labour market,” says Tim Akano, MD, New Horizons Nigeria. 

“Nigeria is sitting on a demographic goldmine that could transform the country’s fortunes. However, without addressing the problems of skills mismatch and the lack of digital skills, the youth will continue to miss out on opportunities in the labour market”. 

To ensure Nigerian youth can fully participate in the economy by seeking out in-demand skills, New Horizons offers 100% scholarships to disadvantaged students. It also helps solicit sponsorship from well-to-do individuals and allows students to pay in instalments. 

The Bowen University award plaque which was signed by the institution’s vice chancellor, prof Joshua Ogunwole and its registrar, Mr. Babatunde Adetona, was “in recognition of New Horizons support to the Committee of Vice-chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities of Nigeria (CVCRPUN).”

The CEO of New Horizons, received NYSC’s award of the ‘Icon of Youth Empowerment’ for his relentless commitment and unparalleled passion for youths empowerment while the company was designated by NYSC as, ‘A Critical Partner in Youth Empowerment’.

Brigadier Shuaibu Ibrahim, the director-general, NYSC, while confirming the awards said, “NYSC Management wishes to place on record that New Horizons Systems Ltd under your able leadership as Managing Director/CEO, is unwavering in its commitment and support for the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme (SAED) of the NYSC.

“This is evident in the cost-free ICT skill/digital training from which hundreds of corps member and many NYSC SAED officers are currently benefiting. In view of the forgoing, the NYSC Management honours you with the award of ‘Icon of Youth Empowerment’,” he said.

Mr. Tim Akano, CEO of the training outfit, said the honours by NYSC and Bowen University is a testament of the company’s efforts to build future generations that would make Nigeria a global economic powerhouse.

New Horizons is Nigeria’s largest ICT training company, having empowered over 1.2 million Nigerians with relevant ICT skills in the last 16 years, bridging Nigeria technical IT skill gaps.

The Nigerian company is a franchisee of New Horizons worldwide, the world’s largest independent IT training company with offices in 90 countries globally.

In the last 16 years, New Horizons Nigeria has won over 50 national, continental and international awards and industry recognitions while Tim Akano has won over 60 individual awards.