The Parallax Media Academy (PMA) has graduated its first cohort of digital media professionals, launching a youth empowerment initiative aimed at reducing unemployment and improving Nigeria’s creative workforce.
The graduation ceremony, held at Union Bank’s SpaceNXT innovation hub, showcased a partnership designed to convert young people’s digital enthusiasm into employable and income-generating skills.
Founder and CEO of PMA, Peace Osayuwamen Saleh, said many young Nigerians possess digital awareness but lack the structure and discipline needed to turn these skills into sustainable earnings.
“What we have noticed with a lot of young people is that they want skills but they do not have the needed discipline for the skill to grow into profitability. We are trying to downchannel that energy into something more meaningful and profitable for them,” she said.
She explained that Union Bank played a critical role in minimising barriers to entry by providing the academy free access to its SpaceNXT facility. The support created a conducive eight-week learning environment while reducing operational costs.
Chiamaka Moses, Team Lead for Innovation Management at Union Bank, said the partnership aligns with the shared vision of nurturing Nigeria’s digital and creative economy.
“By bringing Parallax into the SpaceNXT ecosystem, we are creating a hub where creators can learn, collaborate, experiment, and produce at world-class standards,” she said.
The academy’s “learn to earn” structure focuses on employability, with Saleh confirming that five out of the eight graduates secured immediate job placements.
“We are intentionally looking for employment opportunities so that as you’re graduating, you’re earning money immediately. Five employed out of eight is an amazing number,” she said.
The curriculum is 85 per cent practical, with class sizes limited to 30 learners for personalised mentorship. PMA plans to adopt a month-on-month graduation model in 2026 to scale its impact.
Guest speaker and academy facilitator, Joshua Fatoye, emphasised that financial support alone is insufficient without preparing young people mentally for entrepreneurship and employment.
“Most of the time, we do not focus on mindset transformation or preparing these people for the businesses they intend to go into,” he said.
Founder of Kudimata Nigeria Ltd, Kathleen Erhimu, encouraged the graduates to embrace a global outlook, noting that the skills acquired position them for international opportunities.
Graduate Pamella Onyekwelu expressed appreciation for her growth, saying the programme helped her gain confidence and improve her professional abilities.
The academy closed the ceremony with an appeal to government agencies to collaborate with PMA on youth empowerment.
“Give us these people who are unemployed and some who are unemployable. We will upskill them, brush them up, and help them become entrepreneurs or be absorbed into the media workforce,” Saleh said.
