FG Launches Digital Training Academy, Targets 32,000 Nigerians By Beauty Akporidoh Aroh
The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy, a new national skills development initiative targeting 32,000 Nigerians with free digital and professional training aimed at boosting employability, entrepreneurship and participation in the global digital economy.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who formally launched the programme, said the initiative was designed to bridge Nigeria’s widening digital skills gap by linking learning and internationally recognised certification with employment, enterprise development and national growth.
According to Alausa, the programme is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, in partnership with leading global learning platforms, including Coursera and Pluralsight.
He said beneficiaries would receive training in high-demand areas such as software development methodologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, IT automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, natural language processing and quantum computing.
The Minister said successful participants would earn recognised certificates that could strengthen their professional credentials and improve their competitiveness in both the Nigerian and international labour markets.
Alausa said the initiative would also tackle the digital divide through access centres equipped with internet connectivity and learning devices across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, allowing Nigerians without personal devices or reliable internet access to participate.
He explained that applicants would register with their National Identification Numbers (NINs), provide information on their educational and professional backgrounds and career interests, and undergo pre-assessment before being assigned appropriate learning pathways.
The Minister stressed that the success of the academy would not be measured solely by its target of 32,000 enrolments and 32,000 certificates, but by the real-world impact on beneficiaries.
He said the government would be looking to see graduates secure meaningful employment, teachers deploy digital tools more effectively, entrepreneurs improve productivity and young Nigerians establish technology-driven businesses.
Alausa further linked the initiative to other Federal Government programmes designed to build and deploy Nigeria’s technical workforce, noting that beneficiaries of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy would have opportunities to obtain global certifications through the Digital Training Academy.
He added that the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), recently launched by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, could provide another pathway for trained Nigerians to access international employment opportunities.
The Minister called on employers, technology companies, professional bodies, educational institutions, development partners and state governments to support the initiative through internships, mentorship, project-based learning and employment opportunities.
He urged beneficiaries to approach the training with discipline and commitment, stressing that the Federal Government was investing in their potential to become productive contributors to Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Alausa formally declared the Digital Training Academy launched and encouraged eligible Nigerians to seize the opportunity to acquire globally relevant skills and transform their economic prospects.
