The Federal Government has launched a six-month Digital Training Academy aimed at equipping 32,000 Nigerians with globally relevant digital skills and professional certifications to improve their access to jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The initiative, known as the Digital Training Academy (DTA), is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) through the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure (NEDI) programme.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the programme was designed to address Nigeria’s growing digital skills gap and prepare young Nigerians for meaningful participation in the global digital economy.
Alausa disclosed that the programme attracted 72,850 applications from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said 19,699 applicants met the stipulated entry requirements, while 16,000 participants were selected for the inaugural cohort.
The training will focus on areas considered critical to the future of the digital economy, including software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, IT automation, natural language processing and quantum computing.
Participants will also have access to international learning platforms such as Coursera and Pluralsight, while pursuing professional certifications recognised by leading global technology companies and organisations, including Google, IBM and Huawei.
The Federal Government said it would provide essential resources to support the beneficiaries throughout the programme, including computers, internet connectivity, access centres, facilitators and mentors.
The initiative will also leverage partnerships with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to strengthen the delivery of the training.
According to the ministry, the programme goes beyond skills acquisition, as it is intended to create a clear pathway from training to employment, entrepreneurship and other productive opportunities.
The Ministry of Education said it would monitor the beneficiaries’ progress after the training, particularly their certification, employment and enterprise outcomes.
The Digital Training Academy is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system while developing a workforce capable of competing in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
