The Federal Government has committed more than N10.5 billion to its Digital Training Academy (DTA), a programme designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with digital and professional skills needed to compete in the global economy.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the official launch of the academy.
Alausa said the initiative was created to address Nigeria’s digital skills gap, improve employability and prepare more Nigerians to access opportunities in the growing global digital economy.
The programme, implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), will give beneficiaries free access to training on global learning platforms, including Coursera and Pluralsight.
Training will focus on high-demand areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software development, IT automation, fintech, product management, natural language processing and quantum computing.
According to the minister, the initiative goes beyond providing training and certificates, as it is intended to link learning and professional certification with employment, entrepreneurship and increased 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.
He said the government had also established access centres nationwide to assist beneficiaries who do not have personal computers or dependable internet connections.
The minister explained that the academy would complement other government skills-development programmes, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
He said Nigerians who had completed the 3MTT programme could use the Digital Training Academy to obtain globally recognised certifications, while NATEP could help connect qualified Nigerians with employment opportunities in the international labour market.
“This is how government programmes should work: together, not in silos,” Alausa said.
Alausa urged beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously, stressing that the government’s investment should eventually translate into employment, new businesses, improved productivity and other 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.
The Digital Training Academy portal states that the programme will enrol 32,000 learners and issue 32,000 certificates across more than 10 skill areas. Training access will be available across 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 commence 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.
Source: Education Ministry
