The Federal Government has launched a new Digital Training Academy that will provide 32,000 Nigerians with government-funded access to professional training in some of the fastest-growing areas of the digital economy.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the launch on Tuesday, saying beneficiaries would receive access to courses provided by global online learning platforms Coursera and Pluralsight.
The training will cover high-demand fields including artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development and IT automation.
Alausa said the initiative was designed to strengthen the link between education and the skills required by employers and businesses, with beneficiaries expected to acquire industry-relevant knowledge and professional certifications that could improve their employment and entrepreneurship prospects.
He said the Digital Training Academy was being implemented as part of the Federal Government’s broader education reform agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
According to the minister, the programme is intended to help Nigerians move through a progression from learning and skills acquisition to certification and, ultimately, access to employment and enterprise opportunities.
Alausa said the initiative would also complement other government programmes targeting Nigeria’s growing pool of technology talent.
He explained that participants in the 3 Million Technical Talent programme would have an additional pathway through the academy to obtain globally recognised professional certifications.
The minister also linked the initiative to the National Talent Export Programme, saying the programme could help connect trained Nigerians with opportunities in the international labour market.
He said the coordination of the different initiatives was part of the government’s “One Government” approach, under which programmes and agencies are expected to work together rather than operate in isolation.
Alausa said the collaboration was particularly important as Nigeria seeks to develop a larger pool of skilled workers capable of participating in both the domestic and global digital economy.
He urged beneficiaries to take the training seriously and make effective use of the opportunities provided through the programme.
The minister said the government’s investment in the academy reflected its commitment to developing the skills and potential of Nigerians while ensuring that education and training translate into practical economic opportunities.
The launch comes amid increasing efforts by the Federal Government to expand digital skills development, strengthen technical education and prepare Nigerians for employment opportunities in emerging areas of the global economy.
