The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy, a new national platform designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with digital and professional skills needed to compete in the modern economy.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the initiative at its launch, said the programme was a practical expression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and improving employability.
According to Alausa, the academy, implemented as part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), will provide beneficiaries with free access to high-quality digital and professional training through partnerships with leading global learning providers, including Coursera and Pluralsight.
He said participants would be trained in high-demand areas such as software development methodologies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, IT automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, natural language processing and quantum computing.
“These are not abstract subjects. They are fields shaping contemporary workplaces, transforming industries and creating new opportunities for employment and enterprise across the world,” the minister said.
Alausa explained that successful learners would receive recognised certificates to demonstrate the knowledge and competencies acquired, adding that the initiative was aimed at bridging Nigeria’s skills gap and enabling citizens to participate more effectively in the digital economy.
He said the programme would also help beneficiaries acquire practical competencies that could be applied to solve real-world problems, improve existing businesses and provide them with a competitive advantage in Nigeria and the global digital marketplace.
subsequently proceed through an appropriate learning pathway.
He said the structured approach would enable the government and its partners to match learners with suitable courses, monitor their progress and ensure that public investment in the programme produced measurable outcomes.
Alausa called on employers, technology companies, professional bodies, educational institutions, development partners and state governments to support the initiative by creating internship opportunities, mentorship programmes, project-based learning and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
“Training achieves its fullest value when it is connected to opportunity,” he said.
The minister also charged partners, instructors, mentors, technology teams and government officials involved in the programme to maintain high standards, respond promptly to learners, protect participants’ data, monitor outcomes and ensure that course content remains aligned with changing industry demands.
Alausa said the Federal Government, under President Tinubu’s leadership, would continue to reposition education as a foundation for economic growth and national renewal by expanding access, improving quality and embracing technology.
He formally declared the Digital Training Academy launched and encouraged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire skills that could transform their futures and contribute to national development.
