EU-backed Initiative Targets Underserved Communities in Abuja, Plans Nationwide Expansion

•Train 100 Youth in digital and creative skills 

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

A new youth empowerment initiative, Next Gen Creatives, has been launched by TE Limited to equip young Nigerians with practical skills in media, digital content, and entrepreneurship.

The program, which has already enrolled over 100 young people for its first cohort, is focused on underserved communities where organizers say talent is high but access to training and opportunities is low.

Speaking during the program launch, the Founder of TE Limited, Victoria Najomoh, hinted that the goal is to move beyond theory and teach youth how to earn from their skills.

While speaking on the sidelines of the event Friday in Abuja, She stressed that Next Gen Creatives is all about equipping young Nigerians with the skills they need and not just to learn, but to actually make money from it and sustain themselves.

Najomoh asserted that the organisation is teaching both employment-ready skills that media companies and brands are hiring for right now, and entrepreneurship skills that young people can position themselves and turn their talent into income.

She noted that the initiative prioritises communities like Sauka in Abuja and surrounding areas, where she believes creativity is abundant but support systems are lacking.
“There is a lot of talent in the community, but that is where you see the least opportunities,” she added.

According to her, “The European Union (EU) partnership backs cohort was being delivered with support from the Youth Mobilization Fund an initiative of the European Union, in collaboration with Global Youth Mobilization and the Big Six organisations.

Administrative Officer at TE Limited, Divine Emmanuel said the partnership was critical to bringing the training to the community, stating:
“We know that addressing youth unemployment and digital inclusion requires collaboration, and this is why the EU’s support for Next Gen Creatives Cohort 1 is so important.”

On plans for national and online expansion, Program Manager at TE Limited, Halle Onoh noted that the organisation plans to scale the program both physically and online.

He added: “Next Gen Creatives is here to stay. We are doing on-site trainings now, but we are also building an online movement so we can reach Nigeria and beyond. We’re rolling out both free and paid versions to scale access,” Rain said.

He called on government agencies, private institutions, and international partners to support the expansion, stating: “Our goal is to take Next Gen Creatives to every underserved community, today Abuja and Sauka, tomorrow Warri, next Kano, and anytime Australia online,” he said.

He also appealed to parents and policymakers, linking the program to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

“This is not just for us. It’s for the country, it’s for the nation, it’s for the continent. By partnering with us, we can drastically reduce youth unemployment, get people off the streets, and increase self-employment and skills,” Rain added.

On challenges, He said one major barrier is getting young people to embrace the opportunity. “The biggest challenge is seeing young people who need this help and they’re in denial. But we’re not stopping. We don’t know who might just be the next super creative African star.”

Looking Ahead, he stated that TE Limited says its target is threefold: to make youth economically active, turn them into problem solvers in their communities, and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s digital and creative economy.

TE Limited is a Nigerian organisation focused on youth development through creative and digital skills training, entrepreneurship, and personal branding.