The Federal Government(FG) has committed more than ₦10.5 billion to a new Digital Training Academy designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with digital and professional skills that can improve their prospects in the local and global labour markets.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the official launch of the Digital Training Academy under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
The programme goes beyond providing online courses. The government says it is designed to link training and internationally recognised certification with employment, entrepreneurship, and productivity.
Alausa said the initiative was conceived to address Nigeria’s digital skills deficit while giving more citizens access to opportunities created by the expanding global digital economy.
“Our objective here is very clear: to bridge Nigeria’s skills gap, improve employability and enable more of our citizens to take part in the digital economy,” the minister said.
Beneficiaries will receive free training through international learning platforms, including Coursera and Pluralsight. Courses will cover areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development, IT automation, fintech, product management, natural language processing, and quantum computing.
The range of disciplines reflects the changing demands of the technology-driven labour market, where technical competence is tied to access to higher-value employment and international contracts.
The government is also factoring in the digital divide that could exclude people without personal computers or dependable internet connections.
According to Alausa, access centres have been established across the country to provide learners with facilities needed to participate in the programme.
The academy will also complement existing government skills initiatives, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Alausa said participants who have completed the 3MTT programme would be able to pursue globally recognised certifications through the new academy. NATEP, in turn, is expected to connect qualified Nigerians with opportunities in international markets.
“This is how government programmes should work: together, not in silos,” the minister said.
The scale of the programme is significant. The Digital Training Academy portal indicates that 32,000 learners are expected to enrol and receive 32,000 certificates across more than 10 skill areas, with access extended to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The programme also incorporates an assessment system intended to guide participants towards suitable training. Applicants can create accounts with their National Identification Numbers, complete their profiles, and take a pre-assessment before commencing their courses.
The government had already selected 16,000 Nigerians for the inaugural cohort from 72,850 applications received between August 17 and September 1.
That selection figure points to strong demand for subsidised digital training, with fewer than one in four applicants chosen for the first cohort.
The central test, however, will extend beyond enrolment and certification. The government has positioned the academy as an instrument for converting skills into economic value.
Alausa said the investment should ultimately produce jobs, new businesses, and higher productivity.
“Today, we’re not merely unveiling an online learning portal. We’re opening a new pathway to opportunities for thousands of Nigerians,” he said.
The initiative comes at a time when digital skills are rapidly influencing how people access employment, provide services and participate in international commerce.
Nigeria has a large youthful population, but access to relevant technical training, reliable internet, and internationally recognised credentials has often determined who can take advantage of that market.
The Digital Training Academy seeks to address some of those barriers through free learning, certification, and physical access centres.
Its success will therefore be measured not only by the number of certificates issued, but by how many beneficiaries secure employment, establish viable businesses, win international contracts, or apply their new skills to improve productivity.
With more than ₦10.5 billion committed to the scheme, the government has placed a sizeable financial bet on digital talent. The outcome will depend on whether that investment can translate classroom access and online learning into sustainable economic opportunities for the 32,000 Nigerians targeted by the programme.
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