VFD Microfinance Bank, WAWU Africa Launches Initiative to Upskill 10 million Nigerians

In a significant initiative aimed at tackling unemployment and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transition, VFD Microfinance Bank (VBank) has officially partnered with WAWU Africa to empower 10 million Nigerians with in-demand vocational, digital, and agricultural skills.

The signing ceremony, which took place in Lagos on Thursday, marks the beginning of a major human capital development project designed to turn Nigeria’s demographic advantage into a sustainable economic benefit.

This initiative aims to support women professionals, artisans, entrepreneurs, unemployed graduates, and micro-entrepreneurs across all 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The partnership is anchored by three strategic pillars designed to bridge the gap between education and immediate employability:

Foundational Digital Skills: Equipping participants with essential digital literacy, online safety protocols, and the use of productivity-boosting no-code tools.

Tech Pathways: Delivering advanced technical training in high-demand fields, including software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, and product design.

Agro-Economy: Modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural landscape through climate-smart farming techniques, greenhouse management, and post-harvest value chain processing.

To ensure that the training leads to immediate economic impact, the partnership incorporates “Pathways to Income,” which includes internship opportunities with micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) as well as off-taker agreements for agricultural graduates.

Speaking at the ceremony, Group Head, Retail Banking, VFD Microfinance Bank, Mrs. Adatugo Oyebanji, said: “At VFD Microfinance Bank, we recognize that financial inclusion is only the first step; economic empowerment through skill acquisition is what ensures long-term prosperity.

‘’This partnership with Wawu Africa allows us to support a resilient, job-ready generation. By integrating our financial expertise with practical training in tech and agriculture, we are creating a backbone for the digital economy.

‘’We are particularly excited about the inclusivity of this program—reaching everyone from the graduate in Lagos to the market woman in Kano—ensuring that the path to increased income is open to all.”

On his part, Chief Executive Officer, WAWU Africa, Mr. Emmanuel Lennox, said: “Our mission with the WAWU Africa has always been about scale and speed to market. Nigeria does not have years to wait; we need skills that translate into livelihoods within months.

‘’By partnering with VFD Microfinance Bank, we are combining world-class competency-based assessments with the financial infrastructure needed to sustain 10 million learners. We are providing the tools that will boost productivity and create millions of dignified jobs across every LGA in Nigeria.”

The signing ceremony was attended by key leadership from both organizations, including Mr. Olawale Jekoyemi, Managing Director of VFD Microfinance Bank (VBank); Mrs. Adatugo Oyebanji, Group Head of Retail Banking at VFD Microfinance Bank; Mr. Emmanuel Lennox, Chief Executive Officer of Wawu Africa; and Mrs. Chioma Nwahiri, Chief Executive Officer of The Catalyst Consulting Firm. They were joined by other members of the VFD MFB senior management team.