The Professor Isa Pantami Foundation has opened applications for a new digital skills empowerment programme that will train 200 youths from Bauchi State in Smartphone Repairs, Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity. The initiative is designed to help young people gain practical, income-ready skills that support self-reliance and participation in the evolving digital economy.
This programme aligns with the Foundation’s broader mission to train 10,000 young people across Gombe and neighbouring North-East states. Participants will receive start-up toolkits and post-training support to help them establish small repair businesses, improve their capacity to earn sustainably, and boost digital inclusion across the region.
Earlier in August 2025, the Foundation concluded a three-week training for 250 youths in Gombe State. Graduates received full toolkits and technical training that enabled many of them to begin earning immediately after the programme.
Eligibility Requirements • Applicant must be a youth resident in Bauchi State. • Must be between the ages of 18 and 35. • Must have an interest in smartphone repair, digital technology, AI, or cybersecurity. • Ability to commit fully to the training duration. • Basic literacy is required, but prior technical knowledge is not necessary. • Priority may be given to unemployed or underemployed youths, including those seeking technical livelihood opportunities.
The training combines hands-on learning with mentorship across three core areas:
Smartphone Repair • Fault diagnosis and hardware troubleshooting • Screen and battery replacement • Component-level repair and soldering • Software troubleshooting and system restoration
AI Mentorship • Introduction to AI • Practical AI tools for business and productivity • Basics of machine learning • Understanding digital transformation
Cybersecurity • Foundations of cybersecurity • Protecting devices and sensitive data • Digital privacy and online safety
Participants will also learn customer service, business management, entrepreneurship planning, and other skills necessary to start and grow a tech service business. Every participant will receive industry-recognised certification in mobile repair and digital literacy.
What You Will Learn • Hardware repair skills • AI tools and digital productivity • Cybersecurity and data protection • Business management and customer service
