32,000 Nigerians to get free tech skills, certifications from FG academy

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The Federal Government has launched a six-month Digital Training Academy aimed at equipping 32,000 Nigerians with digital skills, professional certifications and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship in the global digital economy.

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The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, saying the initiative was designed to address the country’s digital skills gap and expand opportunities for Nigerians in the technology-driven global economy.

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The academy is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative through the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme and is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

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The statement noted that while speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, said the ministry received 72,850 applications from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with 19,699 applicants meeting the entry requirements.

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According to the ministry, 16,000 beneficiaries were selected for the inaugural cohort and the programme will also provide participants with access to international learning platforms and professional certification opportunities, according to the ministry.

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“The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy (DTA), a six-month intervention of the Federal Ministry of Education designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with globally relevant digital skills, professional certifications and pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the global digital economy.

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“Training will cover high-demand areas including software development, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, cloud computing, IT automation, Natural Language Processing and quantum computing. Beneficiaries will access global platforms including Coursera and Pluralsight and pursue recognised certifications from organisations such as Google, IBM and Huawei”, the statement partly read.

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The government said it would provide the infrastructure and human resources required to support the training, including computers, internet connectivity, access centres, facilitators and mentors.

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The ministry said the intervention would be implemented in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology.

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It added that the academy was designed not only to provide digital training but also to establish a measurable link between skills acquisition and economic opportunities.

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“The Ministry will track certification, employment and enterprise outcomes to ensure a measurable pathway from skills to productive opportunities,” the statement added.

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The launch comes amid increasing demand for workers with digital and technology-related skills as businesses and public institutions continue to adopt digital systems and services.

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The Federal Government has in recent years placed emphasis on digital skills development as part of efforts to improve employability among young Nigerians, support entrepreneurship and position the country to benefit from the expanding global digital economy.

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Under the new academy, participants will be trained in areas ranging from software development and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and quantum computing, fields that are increasingly relevant to the international technology and services market.

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The ministry described the initiative as part of its broader effort to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap through access to training, certification and practical pathways into employment and enterprise.

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