The MacArthur Foundation has unveiled Nigeria Next, a new initiative aimed at investing in young Nigerians by expanding access to technology, fostering innovation, and strengthening civic participation and policy engagement.
The programme is designed to support young people in driving social and economic change while navigating a rapidly evolving digital and civic landscape. According to details on the MacArthur website, Nigeria Next will deploy a combination of grants, impact investments, and thought leadership to tackle structural barriers that limit access to technology, economic opportunities, and governance spaces for young Nigerians.
Addressing Nigeria’s Youth Demographic Challenge
Nigeria’s demographic realities underscore the urgency of the initiative. The foundation notes that approximately 60 percent of the population is under 30, while 42 percent is under 15, yet only seven percent of young people possess the digital skills necessary to fully participate in the digital economy.
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| Kole Shettima, the Nigeria Office Director of the MacArthur Foundation (PHOTO CREDIT: Gbolahan Ogunsolu CJID) |
- Digital inclusion: Accelerating access to technology and digital tools while strengthening knowledge in artificial intelligence (AI), ethics, and technical skills.
- Creativity and innovation: Supporting hubs, incubators, and shared workspaces to promote economic transformation and creative entrepreneurship.
- Civic participation: Enhancing journalism, media, and civic spaces by amplifying young voices, fostering digital citizenship, and countering digital authoritarianism.
- Research-backed policy development: Funding research and policy analysis to shape government decisions that affect young Nigerians.
Inspiration from Real Stories
The vision for Nigeria Next was informed by consultations across cities including Kafanchan, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Abuja, Kano, and Lagos. Kole Shettima, director of MacArthur Foundation’s Nigeria office, highlighted the story of Balkisu, a TikToker from Bauchi, as a powerful inspiration.
After high school, Balkisu could not attend college due to financial constraints, yet she leveraged her smartphone to participate in civic activism, including the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement in 2024. Shettima said, “The Balkisus of Nigeria represent the promise of this work: a disadvantaged, digitally savvy young woman whose voice resonates in the civic space despite limited access to resources.”
Young Nigerians as Drivers of Innovation and Civic Change
Shettima emphasized a shift in perspective: rather than seeing young people as a challenge, Nigeria Next recognizes them as critical assets. Nigeria’s youth are driving innovation in finance, technology, agriculture, civic tech, and creative industries such as Nollywood and Afrobeats.
“Young Nigerians are digital natives, pioneering new forms of civic engagement and activism on issues including clean energy, democracy, transparency, and gender-based violence,” Shettima said. “By elevating our young people through inclusion, innovation, creativity, and civic participation, we hope to make a lasting contribution to Nigeria’s future.”
Building a Platform for Opportunity
While still in its early stages, Nigeria Next aims to create lasting opportunities for young Nigerians by addressing digital divides, fostering innovation, and supporting civic engagement. The MacArthur Foundation plans to collaborate with other philanthropic organizations to expand the programme’s reach and impact.