In Nigeria, the conversation about skills has been around for as long as many of us can remember. From secondary school to the doors of university, young people are reminded that acquiring a skill is important. Parents, teachers, and community leaders often say it’s the surest way to survive in a country where jobs are scarce. And yet, the zeal to acquire a skill isn’t always there. For many, the barrier is money. For others, it is the belief that success only comes through “connections.” You hear it everywhere: “If you don’t know someone, you can’t make it.”
But something is changing. More young Nigerians are beginning to see that skills can create opportunities, even where connections don’t exist. SkillForAll has brought that conversation to life with the launch of TechPlug, a new program designed to give beginners a chance to explore the world of technology.
TechPlug kicked off with the simple goal of welcoming newbies into tech. It isn’t about complicated coding bootcamps or advanced lectures. It is about breaking things down, creating a space where curiosity mattered more than experience.
The first edition opened its doors to students, job seekers, and enthusiasts who wanted to understand how technology could fit into their lives. Many came with questions: “Do I need to study computer science to work in tech? “, “Is tech really for me?”
The answer they found was refreshing: you can be anything you want, an artist, a historian, a business student, and still learn a tech skill that will open new doors. The focus of the most recent TechPlug session was Digital Marketing. For hours, participants immersed themselves in what it means to promote products, services, and ideas in today’s digital age.
They discovered that digital marketing is more than just posting on Instagram or Twitter. It is a full ecosystem of strategies, from search engine optimization (SEO) that helps websites get found on Google, to email marketing that keeps customers engaged, to content creation that captures attention. For some, this was the first time hearing about the mechanics behind the ads they see every day. For others, it was the “aha” moment of realizing that their side hustle, school project, or even personal brand could grow if only they applied these tools.
Perhaps the most powerful part of TechPlug was the way it challenged long-standing beliefs. Many young people still think you need to graduate with a tech degree before you can work in the industry. But in reality, plenty of successful designers, marketers, and analysts never studied those subjects in university. The point was clear: technology is no longer a closed world. It is a tool anyone can pick up.
The room buzzed with energy throughout the day. New friendships formed quickly as participants paired up for exercises. Some laughed nervously as they presented their first attempts at writing marketing content. Others leaned forward with excitement, scribbling notes as they learned about analytics tools. There was no competition, only community. Everyone was there to grow together. You could see the lightbulb moments—someone realizing how search engines actually work, another sketching out their first customer persona, another smiling wide after finally understanding how businesses use email to build trust. It wasn’t just about knowledge; it was about confidence. Many participants walked in unsure of themselves but left feeling like they belonged in the world of tech.
For those who attended, the journey has only begun. Some are already applying what they learned to their businesses or school projects. Others are diving deeper into online resources, building on the foundation they gained. And perhaps the most important outcome is this: young Nigerians are beginning to see that tech isn’t out of reach. It doesn’t require expensive tuition or insider connections. It simply requires curiosity, commitment, and opportunities like TechPlug to light the path.
For years, the story many young Nigerians told themselves was that without connections, success was impossible. But on that day in the TechPlug workshop, a new story was written.
It was the story of a group of students and young professionals realizing that skills can break barriers. It was the story of laughter, discovery, and empowerment. And it was the story of how one workshop could shift perspectives, spark ambition, and remind everyone in the room that the future is not just coming—it’s already here.
TechPlug was more than a class. It was a reminder that knowledge is power, and power is best when it is shared.
