Nigeria’s Ministry of Education has partnered with global online learning platform Coursera to launch the digital Training Academy (DTA), an initiative aimed at equipping 36,000 young people with internationally recognised certifications in high-demand technology fields.
The programme was announced by education minister Tunji Alausa following engagements at the Education World Forum 2026 in London.
According to the minister, the initiative is intended to strengthen Nigeria’s digital talent pipeline and improve youth competitiveness in the global technology sector.
The DTA will offer structured training in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing and software engineering.
Participants will earn certifications recognised by international employers.
Alausa said the federal government has fully funded 36,000 licenses across Coursera and Pluralsight for the programme’s first year to remove financial barriers to access.
He described the partnership as a strategic move to expand access to world-class digital education for Nigerian youths, adding that it supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and broader efforts to close the country’s digital skills gap.
Implementation will be carried out in collaboration with National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology, which will provide nationwide coordination, learning support and industry-focused mentorship.
Alausa said digital skills are now essential for economic participation, with the government focused on building a workforce capable of competing in the global technology ecosystem.
The initiative builds on earlier reforms, including Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme launched in 2025, which attracted more than 90,000 applications within days of its rollout.
The government has also revised the TVET curriculum to an 80:20 practical-to-theory model and signed partnerships to strengthen vocational training capacity.
The DTA marks another step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand digital literacy and workforce readiness through technology-driven education programmes.
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