The Federal Government has rolled out the Digital Training Academy with a target to give 32,000 Nigerians free access to world-class digital skills training and internationally recognised certifications.
Speaking at the launch of the academy, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as more than just an online learning portal, saying it is a bridge connecting Nigerian talent to global-standard learning, certification, and ultimately, productive employment and enterprise.
The Academy is positioned as a key pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, delivered under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI.
According to the Minister, the programme reflects the President’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or economic background, has access to quality education and relevant skills.
The initiative, which is in partnership with global learning platforms Coursera and Pluralsight, will offer 32,000 Nigerians free training across a range of high-demand fields, including software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, IT automation, natural language processing, and quantum computing.
Alausa described these fields as “shaping contemporary workplaces, transforming industries and creating new opportunities” for employment and enterprise worldwide. Learners who complete the programme will receive recognised certificates validating their acquired skills.
The Minister was emphatic that “digital learning must not become another advantage available only to those” who already have devices, connectivity, or the means to pay for international courses.
To ensure the programme is inclusive, the government is establishing access centres equipped with internet connectivity and learning devices across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, allowing citizens without personal devices or reliable internet to fully participate.
Prospective learners will register using their National Identification Number, complete a profile detailing their background and career interests, and undergo a pre-assessment before being placed on an appropriate learning pathway, a structure the Minister said would help match participants to suitable courses and ensure measurable outcomes from public investment.
While the enrolment target is ambitious, Alausa stressed that “the true value of the Academy will not be measured by numbers alone,” but by tangible outcomes: graduates securing meaningful work, teachers integrating technology more effectively into classrooms, entrepreneurs boosting productivity, and young Nigerians building tech-driven businesses.
He called on selected beneficiaries to engage with the programme with discipline and integrity, urging them to complete their modules, participate actively, and apply their new skills to solve real-world problems.
According to him, the Academy complements ongoing federal efforts, including the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s 3 Million Technical Talent, 3MTT, programme, whose graduates will now have a pathway to global certification.
It also links with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s newly launched National Talent Export Programme, NATEP, which aims to connect trained talent to export job opportunities abroad.
Alausa extended appreciation to partners, instructors, and officials involved in the initiative, urging them to maintain high standards, safeguard learner data, and keep training content aligned with evolving industry needs.
He also called on employers, professional bodies, and educational institutions to support the programme by creating internship and mentorship pathways, stressing that training delivers its fullest value when connected to real opportunity.
Formally declaring the Academy open, the Minister encouraged eligible Nigerians to register and seize the opportunity to transform their futures, describing the initiative as a reflection of “the Nigeria we are working to build,” one where “geography does not limit ambition” and every citizen has a fair chance to acquire relevant skills.
