How 21 former almajiri children learned drone assembly, became Nigeria’s newest tech entrepreneurs

Twenty-one children who once survived through street begging and informal Almajiri education will graduate next week as trained technology technicians capable of assembling drones, repairing computers and launching their own businesses, in what organisers say is a new model for tackling Nigeria’s youth unemployment and insecurity. The graduates are the pioneer beneficiaries of the Almajiri-to-Tech Initiative, a programme established by Tim Akano, founder of the Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation and managing director of New Horizons System Solutions Limited. The graduation ceremony will hold in Abuja on July 29. Read also: Amazon cuts jobs in AGI unit months after 16,000 layoffs, doubles down on AI strategy Just months ago, many of the trainees had never used a computer, while some could not communicate in English. Today, they assemble drones, repair laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones, power banks, electric fans, microwave ovens and other electronic devices after completing intensive practical training. The programme combined technical education with entrepreneurship training, mentorship and character development. Participants also received daily meals, transportation support, learning materials, uniforms and access to religious mentors throughout the training. Unlike many vocational programmes that end with certificates, the initiative will equip outstanding graduates with professional work tools and start-up support to help them begin earning income immediately. A business directory will also be launched to connect households and businesses with the graduates for computer and electronics repair services. One of the graduates, Mohammed, arrived in Nigeria from Niger Republic without speaking English. During the training, he learned the language well enough to communicate confidently with customers while repairing electronic devices, according to the organisers. Another participant, Fatima, discovered a talent for poetry during the programme and wrote a poem celebrating New Horizons Nigeria, highlighting what organisers described as the broader personal development achieved alongside technical training. The graduates will begin work from a fully equipped facility called the Almajiri Republic Workshop in Abuja’s Wuse 2 district. The centre will serve as both a commercial repair workshop and a continuing training hub where they can strengthen their technical skills while earning a living. The initiative comes as Nigeria struggles with one of the world’s largest out-of-school child populations. Organisers estimate the country has about 30 million out-of-school and Almajiri children, many of whom face limited access to education and employment opportunities. Tim Akano said governments should invest more in skills development than relying solely on security measures to address rising poverty, migration and violent extremism. “You do not end migration by building higher walls. You do not defeat insecurity by relying only on military force. You solve these challenges by building hope where hopelessness exists, equipping young people with practical skills and creating opportunities where they live,” Akano said. The foundation argues that expanding similar technology training centres across Nigeria could transform vulnerable children into skilled workers and entrepreneurs while reducing youth unemployment, poverty and insecurity. Read also: Why a global banking giant is defying South Africa’s foreign bank exit The programme has attracted attention from policymakers, development partners and international media organisations, including CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera, which have been invited to witness the graduation ceremony. For Nigeria, where policymakers continue to search for long-term solutions to insecurity and unemployment, the pilot project offers a different approach: investing in digital skills and entrepreneurship before vulnerable young people become trapped in cycles of poverty or crime. If replicated at scale, the organisers believe the model could help turn millions of out-of-school children into productive participants in Nigeria’s digital economy rather than leaving them on the margins of society. Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date Open In Whatsapp