The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy, DTA, a national platform to provide 32,000 Nigerians with free access to high-quality digital and professional training in partnership with global providers Coursera and Pluralsight.
The Academy was formally launched by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who described it as “a bold national platform” and “a new pathway to opportunity” under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Dr. Alausa said the initiative, powered by the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), is designed to connect talent to world-class learning, learning to certification, and certification to productive work.
“We are not merely unveiling an online learning portal. We are opening a new pathway to opportunity for thousands of Nigerians,” he said.
“Our objective is very clear: to bridge Nigeria's skills gap, improve employability and enable more of our citizens to take part in the digital economy.”
Beneficiaries will be trained in high-demand areas including:
Software Development Methodologies
AI/Machine Learning
IT Automation
Cyber Security
Cloud Computing
Natural Language Processing
Quantum Computing
Successful learners will earn recognised certificates to validate the competencies acquired.
“Digital learning must not become another advantage available only to those who already possess devices, reliable connectivity or the means to pay for international courses,” he said.
The learners will require NIN registration, profile completion, pre-assessment, and progression along tailored learning pathways to ensure measurable outcomes.
While targeting 32,000 enrolments and certificates, Dr. Alausa said the true value will be measured by real impact: “The graduate who secures meaningful work, the teacher who uses digital tools more effectively, the entrepreneur who improves productivity, the young person who builds a technology-enabled business.”
He urged beneficiaries to approach the programme “with discipline, consistency and purpose” and to apply their knowledge to solving real challenges.
The Minister noted the Academy builds on other federal investments:
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s 3MTT programme to skill 3 million technical talents, with graduates now able to access global certification.
Dr. Alausa called on employers, technology companies, professional bodies, state governments and development partners to support the effort with internships, mentorship and employment pathways.
“Training achieves its fullest value when it is connected to opportunity,” he said.
Formally launching the Digital Training Academy, he encouraging eligible Nigerians to register.
“This Digital Training Academy reflects the Nigeria we are working to build. A nation in which geography does not limit ambition, and every citizen has a fair chance to acquire relevant skills,” he added.
The Minister explained that the DTA would complement the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy by providing an avenue for participants to obtain global certifications.
He added that the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, could provide a pathway for trained Nigerians to access international employment opportunities.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said her ministry was committed to expanding opportunities for Nigerians at home and abroad.
Oduwole disclosed that NATEP and its partners recently launched “Hire from Nigeria”, an initiative aimed at connecting Nigerian professionals and service providers with international opportunities.
The programme, she said, targets one million export linked, digitally enabled jobs by 2027.
She urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the DTA to strengthen their skills and contribute to the country’s development.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Mohammed Dandutse, also encouraged Nigerian youths to participate in the programme, saying digital training would help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and technical proficiency.
He pledged the committee’s support for research and innovation initiatives capable of improving the livelihoods of young Nigerians.
Former Minister of Aviation, Dr Osita Chidoka, commended the initiative, describing it as a platform capable of producing innovators and problem solvers.
Chidoka said digital expertise was no longer optional in a rapidly changing world, adding that the programme would help Nigerian youths acquire relevant skills to remain competitive as technology continues to reshape the global economy.