By Perpetua Onuegbu
A Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), Generation Ghana has launched a fully funded digital marketing programme to equip young women with in-demand skills needed to compete among the global workforce.
The NGO is partnering with Parasol Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), a remote staffing partner that helps founders, employers and non-profit organisations to connect trained, reliable talents working from hubs built for uninterrupted productivity.
Speaking at the opening of the 14-week training on Tuesday in Abuja, Managing Partner of Parasol BPO, Bankole Ojo-Medubi, said that the programme was designed to train and connect Nigerian talents with international businesses.
According to him, Parasol connects trainees to businesses in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Europe where demand for digital marketing professionals continues to grow.
Ojo-Medubi explained that the programme, known as Remote Online Work (ROW), focused on women because they remain largely under-represented in the workforce.
“Empowering women with globally-relevant skills will make employers actively seek them out rather than merely advocating for inclusion,” he said.
He further stated that digital marketing was chosen because it was one of the most sought-after skills worldwide, adding that more than 70 per cent of participants trained secure jobs within 90 days of completing the programme.
“The first cohort, which had 15 trainees, recorded a 96 per cent success rate, with beneficiaries gaining employment or freelance opportunities.
“This cohort has 20 trainees, and we believe that progressively the numbers will increase.
“The six-month programme comprises three months of intensive training, followed by three months of mentorship and job placement support.
“Participants will be trained on skills, such as SEO, SEM, social media management, content creation (Canva, WordPress), email marketing (Mailchimp) and digital strategy, alongside professional skills like communication, time management, and creativity.
“They will receive weekly data stipends, access to 24-hour work facilities with power and internet, and backup laptops, where necessary.”
Ojo-Medubi said that the initiative would not only prepare Nigerian youths to compete internationally but also contribute to economic growth through increased income and spending.
He called on government and stakeholders to support and scale programmes that would deliver measurable results, warning that failure to make young people economically viable could push them towards negative alternatives.
One of the beneficiaries, Pamela Ewuga, said that she applied for the digital marketing programme because of her long-standing interest in the field and the opportunity to learn valuable skills at no cost.
Ewuga described the training as motivating and inspiring, noting that digital marketing is a growing and in-demand career that offers strong economic benefits.
She expressed the confidence that the skills gained would help her secure a well-paid job and also support her plans to promote her own business online.
The participant expressed gratitude to the organisers for providing the free training, describing it as a rare and impactful opportunity.
Ewuga called on the government to encourage and support similar programmes, stressing that such initiatives would reduce unemployment, economic hardship and insecurity by engaging young people productively and keeping them off the streets.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the programme, being executed by Generation Ghana and Parasol BPO, is funded by the Coca Cola Foundation.
NAN also reports that Generation Global, a global non-profit network supporting people to achieve economic mobility and better life, has its team, Generation Ghana, working within Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
