Exquisite

If young people believe they have a stake in the future, they’ll build, not destroy —Victoria Ndu, SDGs advocate; founder, NTYMS Initiative

Victoria Ndu is a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate; the founder of the Too Young to Make Sense (NTYMS) Initiative, and the Akwa Ibom State lead and community manager of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, she speaks about her work, youth matters, and other issues affecting young people in the country.

Your profile says you work around Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 4, and 8. What inspired these choices of SDGs? Explain your most recent personal work or undertaking involving these SDGs.

I chose SDGs 1, 4, and 8 because they reflect Nigeria’s deepest struggles and our greatest opportunities for change. Poverty isn’t just about money; it’s the helplessness of having no options. Education should break that cycle, but when it doesn’t lead to real opportunities, it becomes another dead end.

One of my most recent projects is with 3MTT, where we train millions of young Nigerians in tech skills, helping them become globally competitive. Through 3MTT, I’ve watched young people go from uncertainty to building careers in tech and breaking free from financial limits. These are people who once thought success was out of reach. Now, they see what’s possible.

Change happens when people have the right skills, the right mindset, and a real shot at something better. Sustainable change is not about handouts, it’s about real empowerment that can move someone from point A to B.

Tell us about your experience studying Accounting and how your university experience prepared you for your social and community work.

While studying Accounting at the university, I noticed a deep disconnect. I kept hearing, “There are no jobs.” But when I started digging deeper, I realised the issue wasn’t just unemployment, it was unemployability. Many young people didn’t have the skills that the job market required. That realisation changed everything for me.

I started volunteering, worked on impact projects, engaged in community development, and found myself drawn to conversations about economic empowerment. My final-year project on corporate social responsibility (CSR) opened my eyes to the power of structured social impact. I saw that social change wasn’t just about charity — it was about sustainable models that could empower people at scale.

Since then, my career has been shaped by that same drive, to create opportunities that truly change lives. Today, as one of the state leads and community managers for the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, I lead efforts to equip Nigerians with tech skills and build a sustainable talent pipeline. Looking back, the university didn’t just give me a degree, it showed me the gaps that needed to be filled and pushed me towards a life of impact.

Can you speak on your role in the 3MTT programme.

The 3MTT Initiative is one of the most strategic interventions Nigeria has seen in talent development. Spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) led by the Honourable Minister, Dr Bosun Tijani, the goal is simple: equip 3 million Nigerians with tech skills to make them employable locally and globally. It is free.

My role is directly in the implementation of the programme, engaging stakeholders, and co-building an ecosystem that drives it. It’s been incredible. We’ve had fellows who came in with no tech knowledge and within months, they have built projects, secured internships, and many of them have scaled their existing businesses.

How would you describe your humanitarian work in the last four years?

Humanitarian work is not about charity, it’s about responsibility. I have always believed that if you see a problem and can contribute a solution to it, do it. In the last eight years, my focus has been on education, youth empowerment, and digital skills development through the Not Too Young To Make Sense (NTYMS) initiative, Skill Factory Africa, 3MTT, etc.

What keeps me going? Two things — results and reality. I’ve seen lives transformed, people finding purpose, securing jobs, and breaking financial barriers. That fuels me. But the reality keeps me grounded. Millions still lack access. Until that changes, my work remains unfinished. The impact isn’t a moment, it’s a lifelong commitment.

Do you think the 3MTT programme could be expanded to accommodate 30 million Nigerians?

The need is there, and the talent is there, and this will require every stakeholder to play their part. However, the 3MTT is not just about numbers, it’s about lives. Imagine a young person who was stuck now having a path. It’s about Nigeria not just consuming technology but producing world-class talent. Whether three million (which is a grand vision itself) or 30 million. We are transforming Nigeria into a global tech powerhouse and that’s what matters.

Tell us about your Not Too Young To Make Sense (NTYMS) initiative. Comparing yourself with the young people of this generation, do you think their way of life and behaviour make sense to you?

Young people need a space to have real conversations about life, purpose, and responsibility. Through mentorship sessions, discussions, and real-world exposure, we helped young people ask the right questions: What do you want out of life? What skills do you need to get there? How do you turn potential into value? Many young people are stuck not because they lack ambition, but because they lack clarity, motivation, and validation that their life can be successful. We are helping them make sense of their journeys.

As for whether this generation’s way of life makes sense to me, I think every generation is a reflection of its realities. This generation is growing up fully digital, the first to experience the internet at scale. Their perspectives are shaped by speed, fast information, fast success, and fast exposure. That has its strengths, but it also comes with challenges. Many young people struggle with deep work, patience, and consistency because they are conditioned to expect overnight results.

My advice? Don’t let trends define you. Build real skills, focus on depth, and understand that sustainable success has processes and principles. If you play the long game, you’ll always stand out.

If you were appointed as President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on youth matters, how would you advise him on how to manage youth restiveness and political unrest in the country?

Youth restiveness is not a mystery. When young people have no opportunities and feel unheard, frustration builds up. You cannot talk people out of anger. You must address its root causes. You must give them alternatives.

If I were advising the president, I would focus on three core strategies: Massive job and skill creation initiatives. If young people see real opportunities, the incentive for unrest reduces.

Direct engagement and inclusion in policy. Many policies are made for young people but not with them. I even wonder what the age bracket of the word ‘youth’ is in Nigeria. We need to ensure that real young people have a seat at the table.

Civic education leadership development. If young people believe they have a stake in the future, they will build, not destroy.

In your recent LinkedIn post, you stated that many people are “suffering from possibility blindness.” What do you mean by this, and how can this be prevented?

This is when people cannot see beyond their current struggles. It’s when a person becomes so consumed by their current struggles, repeated disappointments, past failures, or environmental limitations that they lose the ability to see opportunities even when it’s in front of them. It’s a mental and emotional state where someone believes that success, breakthrough, or transformation is possible for others, but not for them.

How it can be prevented?

Reframing your narrative. The stories we tell ourselves become the script of our lives. If you keep reinforcing “I never get lucky” or “People like me don’t succeed”, your brain will find ways to prove you right. Instead of “I don’t have opportunities,” ask “What small step can I take today toward my goal?”

Exposure. Your mind can only go where it has seen before. Follow people who have done what you aspire to do. Travel when you can, read widely, attend events, join communities, and have conversations that stretch your thinking. Exposure expands belief.

Building micro-wins to strengthen the mind. Many people think transformation has to be instant. But small wins rewire the brain for bigger wins. So, if you have been struggling with doing something big, start with smaller tasks and get those small wins to build your audacity level.

Skill acquisition. Nothing builds confidence like competence. When you know you have valuable skills, you stop seeing yourself as helpless.

Community. Surround yourself with people who challenge you. If everyone around you is stagnant, you will accept stagnation as normal. Find rooms that stretch your thinking. You rise or fall to the level of the people you constantly expose yourself to.

If you expand your mindset, you expand your options. Possibility blindness is about perspective. If you change what you focus on, you will change what you see. And when you change what you see, you will change what you believe is possible.

What are the major challenges you face in your line of work and how do you manage them?

One of the biggest challenges is stakeholders’ engagement and I’ve realised that communicating that your project is about the people you are serving, not you or your grand methods can help in getting them on your side. Secondly, many people want change but they are resistant to the work required to achieve it.

Where do you see yourself and your career in five years?

I see myself leading large-scale initiatives, and driving sustainable projects in technology, education, and economic empowerment. I also see myself playing a stronger role in policy advisory, ensuring that government and private sector strategies are aligned for sustainable impact. There is so much to do.

What are the things that people do not know about you that you want them to know?

Hmmm. I am deeply introspective. Many see the ‘energy’ of my work, but they don’t always see the quiet moments where I wrestle with ideas, rethink strategies, and just rest. I believe in deep thinking and resting, as much as I believe in action.

If you were to go on an all-expense paid trip to a foreign country for a two-week holiday, which country would it be and why?

As for travel, I would choose Japan because of its culture of discipline, precision, and innovation. And maybe for fun, I would love to visit Bali, Indonesia.

What are your final thoughts?

Nigeria is at a defining moment. The world is changing rapidly, and the choices we make today will determine whether we are participants or spectators in the global economy. Young people must take ownership of their growth. The government must create enabling environments. The private sector must invest in capacity-building. Everyone has a role to play.

I believe that if we all shine our lights in our corner of the world, Nigeria will be a lighthouse.

Kingsley Alumona