The Parallax Media Academy has completed its first set of graduates under its “learn to earn” model, marking the start of a structured effort to reduce youth unemployment through affordable digital training and clear job pathways. The graduation event took place on 2 December 2025 at Union Bank’s SpaceNXT innovation hub, where academy leaders, partners and students outlined how the programme aims to turn digital interest among young Nigerians into steady income.
PMA’s Founder and Chief Executive, Peace Osayuwamen Saleh, said many young people show interest in digital work but struggle to apply their skills in ways that lead to earnings. She noted that the academy was created to redirect that interest towards consistent output. According to her, “What we have noticed with a lot of young people is that they want skills but they do not have the needed discipline for the skill to be able to grow into profitability. We are trying to downchannel that energy and put it into something that will be a lot more meaningful and profitable for them.”
A partnership with Union Bank reduced the cost of running the pilot cohort. Saleh explained that training students for six weeks carries significant expense, but the bank supported the academy by providing access to SpaceNXT at no cost. The arrangement allowed the academy to train students for eight weeks without transferring high fees to learners.
Chiamaka Moses, Team Lead for Innovation Management at Union Bank, said the bank’s support was based on the belief that young creators need access to functional spaces and practical tools. According to her, “By bringing Parallax into the SpaceNXT ecosystem, we are creating a hub where creators can learn, collaborate, experiment, and produce as world-class standards.”
The academy’s approach places employment at the centre of its model. Saleh stated that five of the eight graduates secured job offers immediately. She described the outcome as a sign that targeted training can produce quick results when industry needs are clear. Classes at PMA are practical, with a limit of 30 students to ensure that learners receive close guidance. The academy plans to expand its intake in 2026 by graduating new cohorts every month.
Guest speaker and facilitator, Joshua Fatoye, stressed that digital tools alone cannot guarantee progress without the right mindset. He said, “Most of the time we do not focus on the part of mind transformation or preparing these people for the businesses that they intend to go on with.” He added that the academy’s six-week structure supports both technical ability and readiness for work.
Another speaker, Kathleen Erhimu, Founder of Kudimata Nigeria Ltd, encouraged students to apply their skills beyond local boundaries. She told the graduates, “Money grows on an intelligent mind and with these skills that they’ve acquired today, the world is open. Like they’ve learned, they have started locally, but globally is their space.”
One of the graduates, Pamella Onyekwelu, spoke about her progress. She said the academy helped her gain confidence and improve how she communicates, noting the difference between her first day and her graduation day.
As the programme closed, Saleh called for government agencies to work with the academy to support unemployed young people. She urged public institutions to move beyond one-off empowerment schemes. In her words, “Give us these people that are unemployed and some of them are unemployable. We would upskill them, brush them up and help them to become entrepreneurs or they can even be absorbed into the workforce within the media ecosystem.”
