Nigeria: Govt Launches Digital Academy, Offers 32,000 Nigerians Free Global Tech Certifications

What the report says

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the Digital Training Academy, a new skills programme aimed at giving 32,000 Nigerians free access to digital and professional training, along with recognised certifications in technology fields. The initiative was unveiled in Abuja on Monday by Education Minister Tunji Alausa, according to Vanguard’s report distributed by AllAfrica.

The academy is intended to help close Nigeria’s skills gap, improve employability and prepare more people for work in the digital economy. The reported course areas include software development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, IT automation, cybersecurity, cloud computing, natural language processing and quantum computing. The programme is being run under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative and linked to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, with support from platforms such as Coursera and Pluralsight.

Alausa said the government is also setting up access centres across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory so people without personal devices or reliable internet can take part. Applicants will register with their National Identification Number, complete a pre-assessment and be matched to suitable learning paths. The minister said the academy is meant to connect training with certification and employment, and he tied it to broader federal efforts such as the 3 Million Technical Talent programme and the National Talent Export Programme. More broadly, the move reflects a push to expand access to digital education and build a larger pool of workers who can compete in local and international tech markets.