The Federal Government has invested ₦10.5 billion in a Digital Training Academy (DTA) to equip 32,000 Nigerians with digital and professional skills needed to improve employability and participation in the global digital economy.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the launch of the academy, saying the initiative was designed to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap and link training and certification to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
According to him, the DTA is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
The programme, delivered in partnership with global learning providers, including Coursera and Pluralsight, will offer beneficiaries free training in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, IT automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, natural language processing and quantum computing.
“These are not abstract subjects. They are fields shaping contemporary workplaces, transforming industries and creating new opportunities for employment and enterprise across the world,” Alausa said.
He added that successful participants would earn recognised certificates demonstrating the skills and competencies acquired.
Alausa said the government’s priority was to ensure that beneficiaries gained practical skills that could be applied to solve real world problems, improve business productivity and enable them to compete in the Nigerian and global markets.
To widen access, he said the government was establishing learning centres equipped with internet connectivity and digital devices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The centres are expected to support Nigerians who lack personal devices or reliable internet access to participate in the programme.
Applicants will register with their National Identification Number, provide information on their backgrounds and career interests, undergo a pre assessment and then proceed through appropriate learning pathways.
Alausa said the process would help match participants with suitable courses and enable the government to monitor outcomes from the investment.
He said the success of the initiative would not be measured solely by the number of enrolments or certificates issued, but by its impact on beneficiaries’ livelihoods and productivity.
The minister also said the DTA would complement the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy by providing an avenue for participants to obtain global certifications.
He added that the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, could provide a pathway for trained Nigerians to access international employment opportunities.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said her ministry was committed to expanding opportunities for Nigerians at home and abroad.
She said the DTA complemented NATEP, which seeks to connect Nigerian talent with international employers and buyers.
According to Oduwole, NATEP and its partners recently launched “Hire from Nigeria”, an initiative aimed at connecting Nigerian professionals and service providers with international opportunities.
She said the programme targets one million export linked, digitally enabled jobs by 2027.
Oduwole urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the DTA to strengthen their skills and contribute to the country’s development.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Mohammed Dandutse, also encouraged Nigerian youths to participate in the programme, saying digital training would help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and technical proficiency.
He pledged the committee’s support for research and innovation initiatives capable of improving the livelihoods of young Nigerians.
Former Minister of Aviation, Dr Osita Chidoka, commended the initiative, describing it as a platform capable of producing innovators and problem solvers.
Chidoka said digital expertise was no longer optional in a rapidly changing world, adding that the programme would help Nigerian youths acquire relevant skills to remain competitive as technology continues to reshape the global economy.
Alausa urged beneficiaries to approach the programme with discipline and purpose, while calling on employers, technology companies, professional bodies, educational institutions and development partners to create internship, mentorship and employment opportunities for participants.
“Training achieves its fullest value when it is connected to opportunity,” he said.
