32,000 Nigerians to Get Free Tech Training as FG Bets ₦10.5bn on Digital Skills

The Federal Government has launched a Digital Training Academy to equip 32,000 Nigerians with free digital and professional skills, as part of efforts to close the country’s skills gap and improve employability.

The programme, launched in Abuja, comes with a ₦10 billion government investment and is designed to connect beneficiaries with globally recognised training and certification opportunities.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative would provide training in areas including software development, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud computing, IT automation, fintech, natural language processing and quantum computing.

The academy is being implemented under the Federal Government’s National Skilling Project, with global learning providers including Coursera and Pluralsight involved in the training.

According to the official Digital Training Academy portal, 32,000 Nigerians are expected to receive training and certificates, with more than 10 skill areas available across 37 locations.

The programme is open to Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, including students, job seekers and working professionals seeking to improve their skills or change careers.

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Applicants are required to register with their National Identification Number and an active phone number before completing their profile and taking a pre-assessment.

The training will combine self-paced learning with live sessions and projects, while designated centres will provide internet access and learning devices for participants who may not have reliable personal facilities.

Successful participants who complete their programmes and meet the assessment requirements will receive certificates of completion.

The Federal Government says the broader objective is to improve employability and prepare more Nigerians for opportunities in the digital economy.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the programme could offer thousands of Nigerians a practical route into skills that increasingly shape the global labour market.

For applicants, however, the real value will not be the certificate alone. The opportunity will matter only if participants complete the training, build practical competence and turn the skills into employment, business or professional opportunities.

ValidViewNetwork reports that applications and programme information are available through the official Digital Training Academy portal.