FG Selects 16,000 Nigerians for Digital Training Academy
No fewer than 16,000 Nigerians have been selected for the first cohort of the Federal Government’s newly launched Digital Training Academy, following a recruitment exercise that attracted 72,850 applications nationwide.
The six-month programme, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is targeted at building a workforce with digital skills that can compete for opportunities beyond Nigeria, while also supporting entrepreneurship and participation in the global digital economy.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed the figures during the official launch of the academy in Abuja, noting that 19,699 applicants met the stipulated entry requirements from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The academy will expose participants to fields such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, IT automation, Natural Language Processing and quantum computing. Participants will also be able to learn through platforms including Coursera and Pluralsight and work towards certifications offered by Google, IBM and Huawei.
Beyond online learning, the programme will provide selected beneficiaries with computers, internet access, physical access centres, facilitators and mentors. The ministry said the support will be delivered through collaborations with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology.
The initiative is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative through the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme and is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the country’s digital skills deficit. The ministry said it will follow participants’ progress after training, including their certification, employment and business outcomes.
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