By David Akinmola
Over 8,000 Nigerian students have participated in the 18th edition of Aptech Career Quest, with more than 200 aspiring technology and creative professionals receiving scholarships valued at over N701 million, as the country intensifies efforts to bridge its digital skills gap.
The nationwide career guidance initiative, organised by Aptech Nigeria in collaboration with Middlesex University London, was held across eight cities through physical and virtual sessions, exposing students to emerging opportunities in technology, creative industries and international education pathways.
The programme, which ran from August 7 to 21, featured physical events in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Ibadan and Abeokuta, followed by two nationwide online sessions designed to extend participation to students in other parts of the country.
The initiative comes amid growing demand for skilled workers in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), software development, cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, networking and digital creative services, with employers increasingly seeking practical skills alongside conventional academic qualifications.
Beyond career counselling, participants were introduced to practical learning opportunities, project showcases, scholarship schemes and international progression routes aimed at improving their employability and access to the global technology market.
A major feature of this year’s programme was the progression pathway between Aptech and Middlesex University London, which allows eligible students to use the Credit Transfer Facility (CTF) to progress from selected Aptech programmes into internationally recognised undergraduate degree programmes in the United Kingdom.
Students undertaking programmes such as the Advanced Diploma in Software Engineering – Artificial Intelligence (ADSE AI) and Advanced Diploma in Multimedia & Animation (ADIM) can, subject to applicable requirements, progress to selected degree programmes including BSc (Hons) Computer Networks, BSc (Hons) IT & Business Information Systems, BA Animation, and BA Animation & Games.
The scholarship component, however, emerged as one of the biggest attractions, with over 200 students receiving awards with a combined value exceeding N701 million.
The awards are expected to make career-focused technology and creative education more accessible to young Nigerians, particularly those seeking alternatives to traditional education routes or looking to acquire specialised digital skills.
Executive Vice President, International Business, Aptech Limited, Kallol Mukherjee, said the response to the programme reflected the growing aspirations of Nigerian youths to build careers in the digital economy.
He said: “Over the past 26 years, Aptech has remained committed to empowering students with practical, industry-relevant skills that prepare them for global opportunities.”
Mukherjee added that the partnership with Middlesex University was strengthening international opportunities available to Aptech students by providing access to globally recognised degree pathways.
According to him, initiatives such as Career Quest would continue to support the development of future-ready talent capable of contributing to Nigeria’s technology ecosystem while competing in the international labour market.
With 26 years of operations in Nigeria and a network of 72 centres nationwide, Aptech offers career programmes covering artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, software development, full-stack development, cybersecurity, networking, cloud computing, Internet of Things, digital marketing, user interface/user experience, animation and 3D visualisation.
The company also runs fast-track technology courses and programmes targeted at teenagers, giving learners different entry points depending on their experience and career objectives.
The scale of participation in Career Quest highlights the growing interest among Nigerian youths in technology-related careers, but also points to the wider challenge of converting that interest into employable skills.
For Nigeria, where the expansion of the digital economy is creating demand for specialised talent, industry stakeholders have increasingly stressed the need for stronger collaboration between training institutions, employers and international education providers.
The emphasis is shifting from simply increasing access to digital education to ensuring that young people acquire practical competencies, recognised qualifications and exposure to real-world industry requirements.
Aptech’s Career Quest therefore provides another channel for connecting students with career guidance, technical training and international progression opportunities at a time when digital skills are becoming increasingly important to employability and economic competitiveness.
