Nigeria secures N6bn private-sector support to scale up 3MTT digital skills programme

…as FG trains 135,000 youths in two years

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has disclosed that the Federal Government has secured more than N6.45 billion in private-sector support to scale up the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme across the country.

Speaking at the 3MTT National Impact Summit in Abuja on Thursday, Tijani announced that new support from IHS, MTN, and Airtel will strengthen the programme’s training facilities, expand its reach into local communities, and provide more opportunities for young Nigerians seeking technology careers.

IHS pledged N2.5 billion, MTN N2.95 billion, and Airtel N1 billion to the initiative.

Tijani also revealed that about 135,000 Nigerians have been trained over the past two years, with some securing well-paid jobs in tech companies, while others have had opportunities to travel to China, the UK, and other countries for further studies.

The minister, who praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the 3MTT programme and other digital technology initiatives, said that within the first month of the programme’s launch, over 1.8 million Nigerian youths registered.

Read also: Digital economy bill will unlock Nigeria’s $1 trillion growth potential — Tijani

According to Tijani, the current administration’s commitment to developing digital infrastructure remains unparalleled, as President Tinubu approved the deployment of 4,000 telecom infrastructures to rural areas to ensure that 23 million Nigerians in unconnected regions gain Internet access.

The Minister, who noted that by 2030 approximately 170 million jobs will be available for Nigerians with tech skills, emphasized that the digital economy sector will remain vibrant.

He stated that Nigeria will be in a strong position to fill vacancies in the sector due to the administration’s approach to integrating youth into the digital economy.

Tijani attributed the programme’s rapid expansion to nationwide interest and President Tinubu’s reforms in the digital economy, which aim to improve citizens’ welfare. He said, “Every policy of this administration—and all the reforms introduced—are for the benefit of the average Nigerian.”

He added that the summit was also an opportunity to recognize the President’s role in developing the country’s digital sector.

He highlighted policy actions that have improved investor confidence, including the National Data Protection Commission Act, the rollout of 3MTT in 2023, approval of a $2 billion project to deploy 90,000 km of fibre, the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national assets, and the implementation of tariff reviews for operators.

Tijani also outlined earlier private-sector contributions. IHS initially supported 3MTT with N1 billion at launch and later provided N1.5 billion to restore a vandalized tech park in Kano. MTN invested N3 billion for training, devices, and data, while Airtel funded the 3MTT NextGen stream with N1 billion.

“These contributions laid the foundation for the programme today,” he said. He further noted that global technology companies—AWS, Google, Huawei, and Microsoft—have supported the programme through non-financial contributions.

Tijani explained that the large response to 3MTT shows it meets a national need, with over 1.8 million applicants within the first month from all states and local governments. Applicants registered using either their NIN or BVN to ensure unique identification.

He detailed that the training rollout is structured in phases: 30,000 learners in the first phase starting December 2023; one million trainees in the second phase by July 2024; and a final phase targeting three million Nigerians next year.

He reported that more than 15,000 people from the first cohort have already secured employment, with many earning salaries above N250,000.

To support the programme, the government has established 201 applied learning centres nationwide and engaged 583 learning partners along with 37 community managers.

On job placement, Tijani said the European Union and UNDP, through the Jubilee Fellows Programme, funded internship opportunities that allow fellows to gain work experience without cost to host companies.

President Tinubu, represented by George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that Nigeria’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy depends on investment in digital talent and the productivity of young people.

He noted that countries leading globally are those that invest in equipping youth with relevant skills. Tinubu added that digital competence now cuts across sectors, including agriculture, health, finance, manufacturing, education, and public service, positioning Nigeria to compete internationally.

Launched in October 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, the 3MTT programme aims to train three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills by 2027.

The President emphasized that human capital is Nigeria’s most valuable resource under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He highlighted the role of digital skills in driving growth across sectors and praised the 3MTT programme as a model of effective implementation, noting its nationwide impact with over 1.8 million applications, job creation, and support for startups.

He commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy and key partners—including IHS Towers, MTN, Airtel, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, UNDP, and the EU for supporting the initiative.

The President stressed that expanding digital and technical skills nationwide requires continued collaboration among government, industry, and development partners.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a skilled workforce that will drive Nigeria’s future growth and competitiveness.

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