The Federal Government has launched a six-month Digital Training Academy designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with digital skills, professional certifications and opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in the global digital economy.

The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

According to the ministry, the initiative is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s digital skills gap and creating more opportunities for citizens to participate in the technology-driven global economy.

The academy is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative through the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme and is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, said the ministry received 72,850 applications from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He disclosed that 19,699 applicants met the entry requirements, while 16,000 beneficiaries were selected for the inaugural cohort.

The ministry said participants would also have access to international learning platforms and opportunities to obtain professional certifications.

“The Federal Government has launched the Digital Training Academy (DTA), a six-month intervention of the Federal Ministry of Education designed to equip 32,000 Nigerians with globally relevant digital skills, professional certifications and pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and participation in the global digital economy,” the statement said.

Training under the programme will cover high-demand fields including software development, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, cloud computing, IT automation, Natural Language Processing and quantum computing.

Beneficiaries will have access to learning platforms such as Coursera and Pluralsight, while also pursuing recognised certifications from organisations including Google, IBM and Huawei.

The government said it would provide the infrastructure and personnel required to support the programme, including computers, internet connectivity, access centres, facilitators and mentors.

The ministry added that the academy would be implemented in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology.

It said the programme was designed to go beyond skills training by creating a measurable connection between digital education and economic opportunities.

“The Ministry will track certification, employment and enterprise outcomes to ensure a measurable pathway from skills to productive opportunities,” the statement added.

The launch comes as demand continues to grow for workers with digital and technology-related skills, with businesses and public institutions increasingly adopting digital systems and services.

The Federal Government has in recent years prioritised digital skills development as part of efforts to improve employability among young Nigerians, promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the country’s participation in the expanding global digital economy.

Through the new academy, participants will receive training in areas ranging from software development and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and quantum computing, all of which are increasingly relevant to the international technology and services market.

The ministry described the initiative as part of its wider efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap by expanding access to training, professional certification and practical routes into employment and enterprise.