Abuja: The Federal Government has announced an investment of over N10.5 billion into the Digital Training Academy (DTA) aimed at enhancing the digital skills of more than 32,000 young Nigerians, positioning them for success in a globally competitive economy. This significant commitment was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the official launch of the academy in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Alausa emphasized that the academy is designed to address Nigeria’s digital skills gap, improve employability, and enable Nigerians to compete on a global stage. The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aiming to connect Nigerian talents to world-class learning, certification, productive work, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The program will offer six months of training through platforms like Coursera and Pluralsight, providing certifications from top global technology companies. I
t aims to equip Nigerians to work remotely for international companies and clients without needing to leave the country. Key focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, fintech, product management, and quantum computing.
Dr. Alausa called for support from professional bodies, academia, and international partners to ensure the program’s success. He highlighted partnerships with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to provide study centers, internet access, and facilitators for beneficiaries, addressing challenges faced by learners lacking necessary resources.
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, remarked on the academy as an investment in people, knowledge, and national capacity. She highlighted the critical role of digital identity in facilitating secure access to educational, employment, financial services, and broader digital economy opportunities.
Mohammed Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, encouraged Nigerian youths to engage in the digital training to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and technical skills. He assured the Senate Committee’s support for research and innovation to enhance the livelihood of Nigerian youths.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, pledged her ministry’s commitment to ensuring opportunities for Nigerians both domestically and internationally. She noted that the initiative complements the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), which connects Nigerian talent with international employers and buyers. NATEP and its partners recently launched ‘Hire from Nigeria’ to link Nigerian professionals with global opportunities, aiming to create one million export-linked, digitally enabled jobs by 2027. Dr. Oduwole urged beneficiaries to leverage DTA to enhance their skills for national development.