FG digital academy: 16,000 Nigerians kickstart future
he Federal Government has unveiled a bold new Digital Training Academy, with 16,000 Nigerians chosen for its first cohort, an initiative designed to arm young people with world‑class digital skills and open doors to the global tech economy.
Announcing the programme ahead of its national launch on 14 September 2026, Adebayo Onibanjo, National Coordinator of the Special Projects and Innovation Unit at the Ministry of Education, revealed that the academy drew an overwhelming 72,850 applications nationwide. Of these, 19,699 met the qualifying benchmark, and 16,000 made the final cut.
Abimbola Joseph
The Federal Government has unveiled a bold new Digital Training Academy, with 16,000 Nigerians chosen for its first cohort, an initiative designed to arm young people with world‑class digital skills and open doors to the global tech economy.
Announcing the programme ahead of its national launch on 14 September 2026, Adebayo Onibanjo, National Coordinator of the Special Projects and Innovation Unit at the Ministry of Education, revealed that the academy drew an overwhelming 72,850 applications nationwide. Of these, 19,699 met the qualifying benchmark, and 16,000 made the final cut.
The academy, free and government‑backed, will deliver training through international platforms Coursera and Pluralsight. It forms part of the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme under the broader Education Sector Renewal Initiative, anchored on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This cohort of 16,000 is DTA’s first, not its last. It lays the foundation, builds the systems, and secures the partnerships for future expansion,” Onibanjo said.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the academy as a decisive step in building a highly skilled workforce capable of competing globally.
The government’s push comes as employers increasingly demand digital competencies and young Nigerians chase opportunities in software development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital marketing.
Further details on expansion will be unveiled at the launch, with partner institutions including the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Yaba College of Technology, National Open University of Nigeria, Coursera, and Pluralsight.
The ministry expressed gratitude to the thousands of applicants and urged the media to amplify awareness of opportunities that expand access to digital education.
