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ABUJA, Nigeria - In an effort to address unemployment and stimulate economic growth, the Federal Government has unveiled plans for a digital skills training program aimed at equipping university graduates and final-year students with valuable skills both in Nigeria and globally.
Set to begin in June, the initiative will focus on high-demand digital skills, including software development, cybersecurity, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.
During a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister for Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed that this training forms part of President Bola Tinubu's renewed hope Agenda, intended to bridge the skills divide and enhance economic development.
Alausa explained that the program will be delivered in collaboration with accredited trainers and institutions, offering practical training to participants over a span of six months.
Additionally, the minister emphasized that the government will fully fund the training program, covering all expenses such as internet access, computer devices, and certification fees.
"We are launching an agenda for students who have recently graduated from tertiary institutions or are in their final year, where we will provide digital training to equip them with skills needed to serve industries both in Nigeria and around the globe.
“According to UNESCO data, there are approximately 688,000 unfilled positions in software development, about 280,000 in proactive security, roughly 168,000 in IT automation, and 160,000 in natural language processing. In total, there are nearly 2,000,000 job openings available.”
“Our aim at the Digital Training Academy is to empower young Nigerians with necessary skills for success. We are collaborating with trainers to offer a comprehensive six-month training program, and as a government, we are dedicated to assisting our citizens at every stage. We will cover internet costs, supply computers or collaborate with reputable CBT centers, and sponsor their certification. Our objective is to equip these young individuals with the expertise they need to excel in today's digital environment.”
“Once they receive the certification, they can remain in Nigeria and apply for jobs worldwide, potentially working for companies in Singapore, London, Germany, India, and China, earning between $4,000 to $8,000 monthly, which is quite substantial. This is the strategy we are adopting to empower a large number of our young people with the digital skills necessary to participate in the global economy,” he stated.
