The Oando Foundation has set out to equip young Nigerians with skills in the green economy, awarding N20m in seed funding to top performers from the first cohort of its Green Youth Upskilling Programme.
In a statement, the foundation also announced the opening of applications for the next cohort of the initiative, which aims to build a pipeline of green entrepreneurs across the country.
The inaugural cohort trained 25 young Nigerians and provided funding support to outstanding participants to launch green enterprises.
The programme, implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, runs for nine months and focuses on equipping participants with practical and market-relevant skills in renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable mobility.
Head of Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh, said the initiative was designed to position young Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the green economy.
“Nigeria’s development trajectory will increasingly depend on how effectively we equip young people with skills that align with emerging sectors. The green economy presents a clear opportunity, but unlocking it requires deliberate investment in talent pipelines like this. Our focus is to scale access and ensure more young Nigerians are positioned to participate meaningfully in this transition,” Uduimoh said.
The foundation noted that the programme comes amid growing global demand for green skills, as the transition to a low-carbon economy is projected to generate millions of jobs by 2030.
It added that the next cohort would expand its scope to include electric vehicle maintenance and other emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s evolving green space.
According to the statement, participants in the first cohort progressed from technical training to hands-on apprenticeship, with top performers receiving funding and equipment support to scale their business ideas.
The foundation explained that applicants for the new cohort would undergo a multi-stage selection process to identify candidates with strong interest, technical aptitude, and the potential to translate skills into employment or enterprise.
Successful applicants will receive technical training, mentorship, internship placements, and access to performance-based funding.
“Oando Foundation noted that the programme is positioned not just as a training intervention, but as a pipeline for developing a skilled workforce capable of contributing to Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy,” the statement read.
The foundation stated that eligible applicants must be Nigerians aged between 18 and 35, with at least a secondary school education and a demonstrated interest in green or technical fields.
Applications are currently open to qualified candidates nationwide, with interested applicants expected to apply online.
