Unemployment is a major issue in Nigeria. Each year, tens of thousands of students graduate from university but only 10% of them are gainfully employed 2 years after graduation. Disadvantaged communities account for a majority of these unemployed youth, many of whom are involved in criminal activities (including cyber crime) and whose negative impact on the society is high. PIN addresses this gap by providing demand-driven Information and Communication Technologies, entrepreneurship and life skills training through the Ajegunle.org project. As part of the Ajegunle.org training methodology, our graduates are connected to internships and small businesses which result in full-time engagement that improves their livelihoods and allows them to serve as role models to other youth.

The challenge of making the internet as safe has informed the need to raise awareness through a social campaign that involves sensitization workshops in selected schools, a one-day event and deliberate follow-up project. The annual social campaign will direct the spotlight to the issue of internet safety while also providing a platform for other industry players to work together. The expected outcomes for the strategy include sensitization workshops in pre-selected schools across Nigeria, one-day events that will draw attention to the issue of internet safety while also providing a platform for stakeholders to work together and a follow up plan.

The follow-up plan focuses on the need to reduce the number of youth that engage in activities that threaten the safety of the internet (a.k.a Yahoo! Yahoo! Boys/Girls). This follow-up project is built on lessons from best practice efforts that address social ills and will include a 4-phase process: recruitment, training, internships and business innovation. The recruitment process seeks to identify youth who are at-risk with cyber-crime and they will then be re-trained to use their skills and additional training to earn legitimate income before being attached to partner organizations for internships that will prepare them for the world of work while attaching them to mentors.

Please see the project page for new updates.

Imagine what bringing together the cream of today's young Nigerian code-spinners and ICT gurus-in-the-making (to discuss the technical, business and leadership requirements of ICT and innovation) will do to the Nigerian economy - and the businesses that these young (wo)men build. PIN envisages a gathering of the best selected based on effort (so far) and promise (for the future) where they will showcase their products, meet with potential investors and learn how to: improve their skills; create wealth from their skills; set out on a journey that ensures personal development, corporate growth, national relevance and global participation.

TENT (Techie. Entrepreneurial. Nigerian. Talented) is PIN's response to this huge need, based on our team's experience with national and global best practices spanning a period of over 10 years and over 30 countries. TENT is not only an event, summit, forum or conference but a PLATFORM that showcases, connects, adds value and inspires. The platform fills an existing gap for a place where budding Nigerian technopreneurs can showcase their work, connect with resources, add value to market and inspire innovation.

PIN's Special Projects include:

(a) ICT Think Tank (ICT3) MeetUp: Our quarterly meeting of young professional ICT experts who will discuss the growth of Nigeria's technology space.

(b) #ICT4NGOs: A bi-annual training opportunity for non-profit organisations who desire to use technology better in their work, especially with young people. To join the 2012 sessions, click here to visit the announcement page for application details. 

(c) ICT Quiz/Debate Contests: An annual quiz competition for secondary schools and debate contest for tertiary institutions, with a deliberate focus on ICT knowledge and application.

(d) Digital Lifestyle of Connected Nigerians Survey: Studying the use of ICTs by Nigerians, this survey measures various factors that influence the "digital lifestyle" of connected Nigerians.

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