In a historic milestone for youth empowerment and human capital development in West Africa, twenty-one former out-of-school children will assemble functional computers and drones live on camera on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Abuja.
The event marks the official graduation ceremony of the pioneer cohort of the Almajiri-to-Tech Initiative, an ambitious humanitarian and vocational framework driven by Tim Akano, Founder of the Almajiri-to-Tech Foundation and Managing Director of New Horizons Group Africa.
Six months ago, many of the 21 participants were living on the streets, lacking basic literacy and formal education. Today, following an intensive six-month immersion program, the young technicians have gained proficiency in English and mastered the repair and assembly of complex electronics, including smartphones, laptops, power banks, microwaves, and domestic appliances.
The ₦100 million ($75,000) pilot project was structured to address both technical capability and personal well-being. Beyond practical engineering skills, beneficiaries were provided with new uniforms, nutritious meals, and daily transportation stipends to ensure consistent attendance.
To foster character building and social integration, weekly mentorship sessions were led by religious instructors selected by the students themselves.
“We didn’t just train them. We loved them. Faith and future were trained side-by-side. You do not end migration by building higher walls in Europe. You do not end insecurity and terrorism only by kinetic solutions. You do not end poverty by preaching patriotism. You end it by building higher hopes in Africa, and by giving young people know-how and quality opportunities,” said Tim Akano.
Among the pioneer graduates is Mohammed, an immigrant youth from the neighboring Niger Republic who entered the program unable to communicate in English. Within three months, Mohammed achieved fluency and now independently handles client hardware diagnostics and repairs, highlighting the initiative’s potential to bolster cross-border stability across the ECOWAS region.
Nigeria currently accounts for an estimated 30 million out-of-school children and Almajiris. As an economic bloc, this demographic represents a population larger than several neighboring West African nations combined, roughly equivalent to the combined populations of Taiwan and Singapore, whose collective economies exceed $1.4 trillion.
The Almajiri-to-Tech Initiative proposes a scalable model designed to tackle four interconnected global challenges: security and extremism, human development, irregular migration, and social exclusion. By engaging vulnerable youth, the initiative decouples them from recruitment into violent crime and informal networks. It raises the region’s Human Development Index through improvements in foundational literacy, technical expertise, and earning potential. Furthermore, providing sustainable local livelihoods helps stem Mediterranean transit routes, while economic inclusion and the dignity of labor work to reduce youth substance abuse.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the initiative extends beyond classroom training into direct market integration. The foundation has secured and paid for a one-year facility in Wuse 2, Abuja designated as the Almajiri Republic Workshop, where the newly certified technicians will offer hardware repair services directly to the public.
To accelerate business setup, the top three graduating students will receive comprehensive toolkits alongside cash seed grants to cover initial operational costs. The foundation is also launching a dedicated landline and a print/digital Yellow Pages directory to connect Abuja residents and corporate clients directly with the graduates.
International news networks, civil society organizations, and policy stakeholders have been invited to witness the live assembly demonstration on July 29, positioning the project as a proof-of-concept for human capital development across Africa.