FG LAUNCHES DIGITAL ACADEMY, SELECTS 16,000 NIGERIANS FOR FIRST COHORT
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Federal Government has launched a Digital Training Academy, with 16,000 Nigerians selected for its inaugural cohort as part of efforts to equip young people with globally recognised digital skills and prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.
The National Coordinator, Special Projects and Innovation Unit of the Federal Ministry of Education, Adebayo Onibanjo, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media briefing ahead of the academy’s national launch scheduled for September 14, 2026.
Onibanjo said the initiative attracted 72,850 applications from Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory during the registration period, which lasted from August 17 to September 1, 2026.
He explained that 19,699 applicants met the required qualifying benchmark, while 16,000 candidates were subsequently selected for the first cohort.
The Digital Training Academy is a free Federal Government-backed initiative designed to provide young Nigerians with access to digital training and globally recognised certifications through international online learning platforms.
The programme is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme, a major intervention of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the academy is part of broader efforts to bridge existing skills gaps and develop a workforce capable of competing effectively in the global digital economy.
For the inaugural cohort, participants will receive training through Coursera and Pluralsight, two international online learning platforms.
Onibanjo said the academy would complement, rather than duplicate, existing government investments in digital skills development.
He added that the initiative aligned with the human capital development objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the Data and Digitalisation pillar of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
Quoting the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, Onibanjo described the academy as an important step towards building a highly skilled workforce.
Alausa said the initiative represented the next phase of the President’s commitment to developing a workforce capable of competing in the global digital economy.
Onibanjo stressed that the selection of 16,000 participants for the first cohort was only the beginning of the academy’s expansion.
He said the inaugural cohort would establish the systems and partnerships required to support subsequent cohorts and expand the programme’s reach nationwide.
The Federal Government has increasingly focused on digital skills and technology-driven learning as part of efforts to improve the employability of young Nigerians and ensure that the country’s education system keeps pace with changes in the global labour market.
The expansion of digital learning is also taking place as employers increasingly demand technology-related competencies, while young Nigerians seek opportunities in fields including software development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital marketing and other emerging areas.
The Federal Ministry of Education said further information on the academy’s expansion plans and future cohorts would be unveiled during the national launch on September 14.
The ministry also recognised the contributions of partner institutions and organisations, including the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Yaba College of Technology, National Open University of Nigeria, Coursera and Pluralsight.
It thanked the thousands of Nigerians who applied for the programme and urged the media to continue creating awareness about initiatives aimed at expanding access to digital education.
The government said the academy would provide more Nigerians with opportunities to acquire relevant digital competencies as it pursues reforms aimed at strengthening human capital development and positioning the country’s young population to take advantage of opportunities in the global economy.
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