Tonye Cole has launched Cole Tech Yard, a programme that trains young Nigerians in tech skills and opens doors to paid work in Port Harcourt.
The initiative started with a 28-day bootcamp in Port Harcourt.
It equipped 145 participants with practical digital and tech abilities.
After the bootcamp, selected trainees move into a two-year structured path.
They receive monthly stipends, gain internship experience, and secure job placements at the end.
Cole, a businessman and former governorship candidate in Rivers State, runs the programme through his broader COLE’ctive Initiative.
Earlier this year, the same effort reached over 230,000 youths across Rivers State with education, innovation, and economic inclusion projects.
Cole aims to cut youth restiveness and build real opportunities in communities that often lack them.
Participants attended hands-on sessions in a classroom setting.
Photos from the bootcamp show young people focused on their work while Cole joined them to offer guidance.
Organisers stress that the programme delivers more than certificates.
They build networks and guarantee employment to create lasting change.
Cole has a history of youth-focused work in the region.
Through REACH Nigeria Foundation and other efforts, he supports vulnerable groups and promotes skills that lead to self-reliance.
The Cole Tech Yard fits this pattern by targeting tech, a sector with strong demand but limited access for many young people in Port Harcourt and beyond.
The programme reflects a push to close opportunity gaps.
Young Nigerians often struggle to enter the job market without relevant skills or connections.
Initiatives like this provide a direct route from training to paid roles.
Cole and his team commit to follow-through so participants see tangible results.
