Abuja: The Federal Government has announced that 19,723 Nigerians have qualified for the first cohort of its Digital Training Academy (DTA), following an overwhelming response of 72,850 applications from across the nation. Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, the National Coordinator of the Special Programme Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOI) at the Federal Ministry of Education, made this announcement during a recent news conference in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the DTA is a free initiative supported by the Federal Government under the Nigerian Education Digital Initiative (NEDI), aimed at providing digital skills training. Mr. Onigbanjo stated that the program is a significant part of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), designed to equip young Nigerians with globally recognized digital skills at no cost. This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to develop a skilled workforce in Nigeria, certified to international standards.
Applications for the first cohort of the DTA opened on August 17 and closed on September 1, resulting in 72,850 registrations from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Following a screening process, 19,723 applicants met the qualifying criteria and were deemed eligible for the program. The national coordinator highlighted that beneficiaries from the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program were also included in the first cohort. Additionally, learners nominated by partner institutions such as Yaba College of Technology and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have been enrolled.
The DTA integrates existing digital skills initiatives, showcasing its commitment to enhancing previous government investments in digital capacity development. The training will be delivered through global learning partners, Coursera and Pluralsight. Coursera will offer six training tracks including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Financial Technology, Product Management, Natural Language Processing, and Quantum Computing. Meanwhile, Pluralsight will provide training in Agentic AI, Proactive Security, IT Automation, and Cloud Computing.
Mr. Onigbanjo emphasized that each participant in the first cohort will work towards obtaining a certification recognized both nationally and internationally by employers and institutions. He encouraged all successful applicants to access their accounts and accept their license offers to commence their training immediately. The DTA is a pivotal element of NESRI’s Data and Digitalisation initiative and is aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on human capital development. The national coordinator further noted that the first cohort marks the beginning of the academy’s national expansion, with additional details on future cohorts to be revealed at the national launch.