For many adults in Nigeria, the prospect of switching into a tech career can feel daunting. The promise of opportunity is often offset by high training costs and uncertainty over where to begin. Borderless TEK, a local technology education company, is attempting to bridge that gap with the launch of a free program designed specifically for career changers.
The new course, Introduction to Technology, is scheduled to begin in early October. Organizers say the training will focus on guiding participants who are curious about technology but lack clarity on which path suits them best.
According to Borderless TEK, the program will cover a range of entry points into the digital economy, from data and project management to coding and robotics. A highlight will be a special session called Transit into Tech, where learners explore real-world applications of artificial intelligence, emerging career options, and practical steps for building competence.
Removing Barriers to Entry
One of the main selling points of the initiative is that it comes at no financial cost. For many adults, expensive bootcamps or subscription-based courses remain out of reach. By offering free access, Borderless TEK hopes to reduce barriers while creating a more inclusive pipeline into technology.
Tutor Emeka Oziri, who has previously led similar workshops under the company’s banner, will guide the sessions. Registration is already open through QR codes and online links shared on Borderless TEK’s platforms.
This is not the company’s first experiment with open learning. In the past year alone, Borderless TEK has organized a free Data Analysis workshop, an artificial intelligence training, and an online UI/UX course that featured industry experts. Each program targeted different aspects of digital literacy and professional upskilling.
Chief Executive Olawale Atekoja has previously stressed that many aspiring learners spend money on courses without proper guidance, often ending up disoriented. The company’s approach, he explained, is to give people the direction they need before they commit further.
Why it Matters
The training also reflects broader shifts in Nigeria’s employment landscape. With automation, digital platforms, and AI reshaping industries, more mid-career professionals are looking for ways to stay relevant. Programs like Borderless TEK’s attempt to answer that need, though challenges remain in sustaining momentum beyond introductory sessions.
For learners, the offer may represent not just new skills but a new sense of possibility. For policymakers and the broader tech community, it is another sign that grassroots initiatives are stepping in where formal institutions have struggled to keep pace with change.
As October approaches, the real test will be whether the program delivers more than enthusiasm. For adults seeking direction in an unfamiliar industry, a free first step could mean the difference between giving up and gaining the confidence to try again.
Talking Points
Borderless TEK’s move to make tech training free for adults is refreshing in a country where quality education is usually locked behind hefty price tags. But here’s the catch: free courses often stop at introductions.
Unless they create pathways to actual jobs or deeper training, participants may still be left stranded in the “tech beginner’s limbo.” Africa’s digital economy doesn’t need more half-trained enthusiasts—it needs practitioners who can execute.
Too often, tech training initiatives are youth-centric, aimed at university students or recent graduates. But the truth is, Africa has a massive pool of mid-career professionals who feel trapped in outdated roles.
Ignoring them is not only unfair but economically wasteful. Programs like this highlight how adult learners—bankers, teachers, civil servants—could inject fresh value into the digital economy if properly supported.
