The Federal Government has selected 16,000 Nigerians for the inaugural cohort of its Digital Training Academy, following an overwhelming response that saw 72,850 applications received from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The initiative, which provides free digital training and access to globally recognised certifications, is aimed at strengthening the skills of young Nigerians and preparing them for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the expanding digital economy.
The National Coordinator, Special Projects and Innovation Unit of the Federal Ministry of Education, Adebayo Onibanjo, disclosed this in Abuja ahead of the national launch of the academy scheduled for September 14, 2026. He said the application exercise, which opened on August 17 and closed on September 1, attracted applicants nationwide, with 19,699 candidates meeting the qualifying benchmark before 16,000 learners were finally selected for the first cohort.
The training will be delivered through Coursera and Pluralsight under the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme, a major component of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. The Federal Ministry of Education said the academy is designed to complement existing government investments in digital skills development while giving participants access to industry relevant courses and international learning opportunities.
Onibanjo said the first cohort would serve as the foundation for a wider national expansion of the academy, stressing that the 16,000 beneficiaries represented only the beginning of the programme. The initiative comes as Nigeria faces growing demand for workers with skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, software development, data analysis, cybersecurity and digital marketing, with the government seeking to position its young population to compete for opportunities in the global digital economy.