Abeokuta – Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, has commenced the 9th edition of his flagship skills acquisition programme, training over 350 graduate youths in digital marketing and social media marketing.

The physical segment of the training began on Monday, 11th May 2026, at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. It follows an online component that started last week Monday and will run for a total of 10 days.

The initiative, titled Digital Literacy and Empowerment Programme, is designed to tackle youth unemployment and bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap. It focuses on equipping unemployed graduates and young entrepreneurs with practical tools in social media management, online advertising, content creation, and data-driven digital marketing strategies.

Senator Salisu, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, described the programme as a vehicle for economic emancipation. “The future is digital, and you can see the wonders being done with Artificial Intelligence. To stay relevant, our students and youth must prioritise digital skills,” he said.

The training aligns with the Federal Government’s “Digital Literacy for All” (DL4ALL) campaign—which targets a 95% digital literacy rate by 2030—and complements Ogun State’s ongoing digital transformation agenda.

To date, Senator Salisu has trained over 1,700 youths, distributed laptops and cash grants, facilitated ICT capacity-building for more than 250 teachers, sponsored JAMB forms for over 1,000 students, and established ICT laboratories in several public schools.

Beneficiaries of the 9th edition expressed gratitude, pledging to use their new skills for self-reliance and economic growth. The Senator reaffirmed his commitment to institutionalising digital skills training across schools in collaboration with the Ogun State Ministry of Education.