RismadarVoice Reporters
September 10, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has selected 16,000 Nigerians for the inaugural cohort of its Digital Training Academy, a programme designed to equip young people with globally recognised digital skills and prepare them for opportunities in the digital economy.
The National Coordinator of the Special Projects and Innovation Unit of the Federal Ministry of Education, Adebayo Onibanjo, disclosed this during a media briefing ahead of the official launch of the academy scheduled for September 14, 2026.
Onibanjo said the programme received 72,850 applications from Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory during the registration period between August 17 and September 1, 2026.
He explained that 19,699 applicants met the required qualification benchmark, while 16,000 candidates were eventually chosen for the first training cycle.
The Digital Training Academy is a free Federal Government-backed initiative aimed at providing young Nigerians with access to digital education, professional training and internationally recognised certifications through leading online learning platforms.
The programme is being implemented under the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure programme, a key component of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
According to the ministry, the academy is part of broader government efforts to close digital skills gaps, strengthen human capital development and build a workforce capable of competing in the global technology economy.
Participants in the first cohort will receive training through international learning platforms, including Coursera and Pluralsight.
Onibanjo said the initiative would complement existing government programmes on digital skills development while expanding access to technology-based learning opportunities.
He added that the academy aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the data and digitalisation objectives of the education sector reform programme.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a major step towards developing a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting global labour market demands.
Alausa said the academy reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to preparing Nigerians for emerging opportunities in technology and innovation.
Onibanjo stressed that the selection of 16,000 participants represents the beginning of a wider expansion plan.
“This cohort of 16,000 is DTA’s first, not its last. It represents a significant step toward the Academy’s national ambition and establishes the foundation, systems and delivery partnerships on which subsequent cohorts will be built,” he said.
The ministry said future expansion plans and details of additional cohorts would be unveiled during the national launch of the academy.
It also acknowledged the support of partner institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Yaba College of Technology, National Open University of Nigeria, Coursera and Pluralsight.
The government said the programme would help more Nigerians acquire relevant skills in areas such as software development, data analysis, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital marketing and other technology-driven fields.
