FG Selects 16,000 Nigerians for Digital Skills Academy

The Federal Government has selected 16,000 Nigerians for the inaugural cohort of its Digital Training Academy (DTA).

The free programme seeks to equip young Nigerians with globally recognised digital skills and prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.

The National Coordinator of the Special Projects and Innovation Unit (SPOIU), Federal Ministry of Education, Adebayo Onibanjo, disclosed this on Wednesday.

He spoke at a media briefing ahead of the academy’s national launch scheduled for September 14, 2026.

Onibanjo said the academy attracted 72,850 applications from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The registration exercise opened on August 17 and closed on September 1.

He explained that 19,699 applicants met the required benchmark, while the ministry selected 16,000 learners for the first cohort.

The DTA operates under the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure (NEDI) programme.

NEDI forms part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), one of the Federal Government’s major education interventions.

According to the ministry, the academy will strengthen efforts to build a skilled workforce that can compete in the global digital economy.

Training for the inaugural cohort will take place through two international learning platforms, Coursera and Pluralsight.

The ministry said the programme also supports the human capital development goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

It further aligns with the Data and Digitalisation pillar of NESRI.

Onibanjo quoted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as describing the academy as a new phase in President Bola Tinubu’s drive to develop a highly skilled workforce.

He said the first cohort would provide the foundation for the academy’s planned expansion across the country.

“This cohort of 16,000 is DTA’s first, not its last,” Onibanjo said.

He added that the inaugural cohort would help establish the systems and partnerships needed to support future groups of learners.

The ministry plans to unveil more details about the academy’s expansion and subsequent cohorts during the September 14 national launch.

It also acknowledged the thousands of Nigerians who applied for the programme.

The ministry thanked partner organisations, including the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Yaba College of Technology, National Open University of Nigeria, Coursera and Pluralsight.

It urged the media to sustain public awareness as the government expands access to digital skills training for young Nigerians nationwide.