Social Entrepreneur Leads Push for Skills-based Empowerment in Nigeria

Funmi Ogundare 

In an economy where academic degrees no longer guarantee employment, social entrepreneur and Executive Director of the EGO Foundation, Toluwase Olaniyan, has called for skills-based empowerment across the country. 

Olaniyan stated that he has dedicated the last decade to equipping young Nigerians with practical, employable skills through initiatives that target digital literacy, vocational training, and youth development.

“My journey began in Zaria, Kaduna State, where I  organised grassroots training sessions aimed at underserved communities,” said Olaniyan.

Today, he leads national programmes like GhettoTechStars, SheEnabled, SkillUP and Enterprise Corner, designed to bridge the gap between education and the real-world skills required in today’s job market.

“Skills are the new currency, and our young people must be equipped to compete not just locally, but globally,” he said.

His work includes targeted initiatives like GlobalHer, which provides tech training for young women, and Project YIP (Young Innovators Programme), a platform that connects post-secondary students with hands-on tech experience. The programs, he noted,  have reached over 25,000 individuals, due to strategic partnerships with the organisations like Access Bank, and the vocational education boards across the country.

Olaniyan explained that he is expanding his efforts further with the launch of ‘Workskills’, an initiative aimed at scaling vocational training nationwide. 

He is also introducing the National Student Entrepreneurship programme, which includes a N1 million grant to support student-led innovations.

“By challenging outdated perceptions of vocational education and promoting it as a viable path to success, we are reshaping how Nigerian youth view their future. The goal is to make opportunity accessible to everyone,” the executive director said.