Tinubu Approves N10.5bn for Digital Skills Training of 32,000 Nigerian Students – Alausa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has committed N10.5 billion to support the digital training and acquisition of internationally recognised professional certifications for 32,000 Nigerian students under the newly launched Digital Training Academy.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while delivering his opening remarks at the official launch of the Digital Training Academy.

Alausa said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between academic education and practical skills by equipping Nigerian students with globally relevant digital competencies and professional licences.

He said the programme was a practical expression of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment and the creation of opportunities for young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in the global digital economy.

According to him, the academy would provide students with access to specialised training in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data-related fields and other emerging technologies.

The minister urged beneficiaries to use the opportunity to build careers and businesses that would contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth rather than viewing the programme merely as a pathway to leave the country.

He said: “The Digital Training Academy gives practical expression to the President’s vision of a renewed Nigeria by expanding access to skills that can improve livelihoods and strengthen our economy.”

Alausa noted that the global economy was experiencing rapid technological transformation, making digital skills and internationally recognised certifications increasingly important for graduates seeking employment or entrepreneurship opportunities.

He said the Federal Government was investing in digital training because Nigeria needed to develop the expertise required to attract investment and take advantage of opportunities in the global services economy.

The minister cited studies showing that Nigerian digital entrepreneurs were already serving international markets, stressing that the country had a strong foundation on which to build a competitive digital workforce.

He said the academy would complement other government initiatives aimed at connecting talent development with industry demand, investment and employment opportunities.

Alausa also disclosed that the Federal Government and its partners were working towards expanding Nigeria’s digitally enabled workforce, including efforts under the National Talent Export Programme to connect skilled Nigerians with international employers and buyers.

He said the focus was not simply to train young people but to ensure that the training translated into sustainable commercial relationships, employment and prosperity.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the Digital Training Academy would enable Nigerians to access international opportunities without necessarily leaving the country.

Oduwole said the initiative would provide training in software development, cybersecurity and other digital services required by businesses to operate and expand across borders.

She urged employers and industry stakeholders to participate actively in shaping the academy’s curriculum, providing practical projects and creating placement opportunities for trainees.

The minister also advised beneficiaries to build strong professional portfolios, develop practical competencies and maintain international standards in their work.

She said Nigeria had a major opportunity to use its young and talented population to meet growing demand for digital services across Africa and beyond.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the launch marked an important step towards ensuring that Nigerian graduates leave tertiary institutions with more than academic certificates.

Ahmad said technological changes had transformed the nature of work, making practical and industry-relevant digital skills increasingly necessary.

She said the academy would give young Nigerians access to globally relevant digital skills and internationally recognised certifications, thereby broadening their employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.

According to her, Nigerian graduates should leave institutions with “practical skills in one hand and confidence” to compete anywhere in the world.

She urged students to take full advantage of the programme, develop the knowledge they already possess and use their skills to create value for themselves, their communities and the country.

The Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Students, Sunday Asefon, described the initiative as an investment in people, knowledge and international capacity.

Asefon said the academy would help bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap by creating a structured environment where students and professionals could acquire new competencies, monitor their progress and engage in continuous learning.

He said digital transformation was ultimately about people and that technology could only deliver meaningful results when citizens possessed the knowledge and skills required to use it effectively.

Asefon also highlighted the relationship between digital learning and digital identity, noting that secure digital identity was becoming increasingly important for accessing services and opportunities in education, healthcare, financial services and other sectors.

He commended the Ministry of Education for promoting a model of continuous learning, saying education could no longer be restricted to classrooms or a particular stage of life.

The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, also commended the initiative, describing trusted digital identity and digital skills as important components of inclusion in the modern economy.

She said Nigerians with secure identities and the ability to navigate digital platforms would be better positioned to access opportunities, innovate and contribute to economic development.

Coker-Odusote expressed NIMC’s readiness to work with the Ministry of Education and other government institutions towards building a digitally empowered and digitally inclusive Nigeria.

Senate committee chairman pledges support
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Dandutse, said the Digital Training Academy represented an important addition to the government’s efforts to prepare Nigerian youths for the competitive job market.

He said the initiative would help bridge the gap between academic theory and practical economic application by providing young Nigerians with relevant digital and technological skills.

Dandutse pledged legislative support for programmes that promote innovation, research, mentorship and technology development.

He said the academy represented an investment in Nigeria’s future and expressed hope that beneficiaries, irrespective of their backgrounds, would gain the skills needed to compete effectively in the digital economy.

The launch brought together senior government officials, education stakeholders, representatives of tertiary institutions, technology and private-sector partners, students and other stakeholders.

The Federal Government said the ultimate objective of the academy was to create a digitally skilled workforce capable of generating employment, attracting investment and positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global digital services economy.