The Federal Government has committed more than ₦10.5 billion to its Digital Training Academy (DTA), a nationwide programme designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with globally competitive digital and professional skills.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa disclosed the investment on Monday in Abuja during the official launch of the academy, saying the initiative would help close Nigeria’s digital skills gap and improve access to employment opportunities in the global digital economy.
Implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), the programme will provide beneficiaries with free training through global learning platforms, including Coursera and Pluralsight.
Training will cover high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development, IT automation, fintech, product management, natural language processing and quantum computing.
Alausa said the programme was designed to move beyond the conventional focus on training and certificates by linking skills development to employment, entrepreneurship and productivity.
“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,” Alausa said.
The government has also established access centres across the country to support beneficiaries who do not have personal computers or reliable internet connectivity.
The minister said the Digital Training Academy would complement other government skills-development initiatives, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
Under the arrangement, Nigerians who have completed 3MTT will have an opportunity to obtain globally recognised certifications through the academy, while NATEP is expected to help connect skilled Nigerians with opportunities in international labour markets.
“This is how government programmes should work: together, not in silos,” Alausa said.
He urged participants to make effective use of the opportunity, stressing that the government’s investment should ultimately translate into jobs, new businesses, higher productivity and broader economic opportunities.
“Today, we’re not merely unveiling an online learning portal. We’re opening a new pathway to opportunities for thousands of Nigerians,” the minister said.
According to the Digital Training Academy portal, the programme will enrol 32,000 learners and award 32,000 certificates across more than 10 skill areas, with training access available in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Participants can create accounts using their National Identification Number (NIN), complete their profiles, undergo a pre-assessment and begin training based on their assessment results.
The Federal Government had earlier selected 16,000 Nigerians for the academy’s inaugural cohort from 72,850 applications received between August 17 and September 1, 2026.
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