By TheDailyNewsHub
The Federal Government has committed more than ₦10.5 billion to a new Digital Training Academy aimed at equipping more than 32,000 Nigerians with digital and professional skills for the global economy.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday, September 14, 2026, during the official launch of the Digital Training Academy (DTA) in Abuja.
According to the minister, the programme is designed to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap, improve employability and create pathways for Nigerians to access opportunities in the digital economy. The initiative is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) and is described as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Alausa said the government had committed the funds to provide 32,000 training licences, allowing beneficiaries to access courses and certifications through global learning platforms and technology partners.
The programme will cover areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, IT automation, fintech, product management, natural language processing and quantum computing.
The minister said beneficiaries would undergo training for six months, with access to platforms including Coursera and Pluralsight, as well as certifications associated with major technology companies.
He explained that the initiative was intended to connect Nigerians not only to learning but also to certification, employment, entrepreneurship and opportunities to work remotely for companies and clients around the world.
The Federal Government has also partnered with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to provide study centres, internet connectivity and facilitators for participants.
The arrangement is intended to address barriers faced by learners who may not have personal computers, reliable internet access or an appropriate environment for online learning.
The official Digital Training Academy portal currently describes the initiative as a government-backed programme offering free learning opportunities to Nigerians. It lists 32,000 learners and certificates as targets across 37 states and provides training options in more than 10 skill areas.
The programme is open to Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, including students, job seekers and employed professionals, according to the academy’s official FAQ. Participants who complete their programmes and satisfy the assessment requirements are eligible for certificates of completion.
Alausa said the academy would also provide a pathway for beneficiaries of the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme to obtain international certifications.
The government says the initiative is aimed at ensuring that geography and financial limitations do not prevent Nigerians from acquiring skills that are increasingly demanded by employers globally.
The launch comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s digital skills gap and the ability of the country’s large youth population to take advantage of opportunities created by the global digital economy.
The government has therefore positioned the Digital Training Academy as an investment in human capital, with the expectation that beneficiaries will translate the training into employment, entrepreneurship and other productive economic activities.