URNI and FON Europe Sign Landmark Agreement to Empower 1,000 Nigerian Youths with Digital Skills
In a landmark step toward bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and empowering its youth, the Unveiling and Rebranding Nigeria Initiative (URNI) and Friends of Nigeria (FON) Europe officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) today to launch the Diaspora-Supported Computer Literacy and Digital Skills Programme (DCLDSP). The official signing ceremony, held in Abuja, marked the beginning of a strategic two-year partnership designed to equip 1,000 young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 with vital digital competencies that enhance employability, innovation, and participation in the global digital economy.
The event brought together notable representatives of both organizations, including the Co-Founders of FON Europe Mr. John Okoro and Mr. Abiodun Odunuga, the Convener Mr. Abdulkadir Lawal and Lead Strategist Mrs. Obiageri Ndulue of URNI, and other stakeholders committed to driving youth empowerment and digital evolution in Nigeria.
Both parties reaffirmed their joint vision of promoting digital inclusion, community development, and social impact. The MoA outlines FON Europe’s provision of 38 laptop computers, strategic oversight, technical advisory support, and communications visibility, while URNI will furnish infrastructure, develop and deploy the curriculum, facilitate training delivery, monitor impact, and drive community engagement.
Speaking at the event, the Co-Founders of Friends of Nigeria (FON) Europe emphasized the importance of diaspora-led support in Nigeria’s digital advancement. They highlighted the organization’s mission to give back to communities in Nigeria through sustainable partnerships that strengthen human capital. They commended URNI’s passion, strategic clarity, and long-term commitment to community transformation, describing the partnership as “a model that demonstrates how Nigerians at home and abroad can collaborate for sustainable national development.”
In her remarks, Obiageri Ndulue, Lead Strategist of URNI, expressed deep appreciation to FON Europe for their confidence and support. She described the collaboration as “a catalytic partnership that aligns with URNI’s vision of rebranding Nigeria through empowered citizens, technological capacity-building, and grassroots impact.” She emphasized that the programme would not only equip participants with digital skills but also inspire self-belief, creativity, and opportunities for income generation, entrepreneurship, and global competitiveness.
Anchored on Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), the programme will host structured training, leveraging a fully equipped digital learning facility, qualified facilitators, and a result-based monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, outcomes, and long-term impact.
The signing ceremony concluded with a commitment from both organizations to uphold transparency, quality, inclusivity, and shared visibility throughout the programme’s lifespan, set to run from January 2026 to December 2027.
This historic collaboration reflects the belief that Nigeria’s greatest asset remains its people innovative, resilient, and collectively determined to build a better future.
Rediscovering Nigeria by Nigerians.