The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy (DTA), a six-month programme aimed at equipping 32,000 Nigerians with digital skills, professional certifications and pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the launch of the academy in Abuja, saying 72,850 applications were received from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, while 19,699 applicants met the entry requirements and 16,000 were selected for the inaugural cohort.

The programme, implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative through the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme, will provide training in software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing, IT automation, natural language processing and quantum computing.

Participants will have access to platforms including Coursera and Pluralsight and pursue recognised certifications from organisations such as Google, IBM and Huawei.

The government will also provide computers, internet connectivity, access centres, facilitators and mentors through partnerships with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology.

The ministry said it would track participants’ certification, employment and enterprise outcomes to measure the programme’s impact and strengthen the transition from digital skills acquisition to productive opportunities.