FG partners Coursera to equip Nigerian youths with global digital skills

The Federal Government has launched a major digital skills initiative aimed at preparing Nigerian youths for global employment opportunities in technology and innovation-driven sectors.

The programme, known as the Digital Training Academy (DTA), was announced last week during the Education World Forum in London as part of efforts under the administration of Bola Tinubu to strengthen youth empowerment and human capital development.

Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to building a future-ready workforce.

He said, “This programme reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda’s strong focus on youth empowerment, innovation and human capital development.”

He added that digital skills are now essential for global competitiveness, stating, “Digital competency is no longer optional; it is essential for success in today’s world.”

The Federal Government partnered with Coursera to provide Nigerian youths with access to online training and globally recognised certifications in high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data science and software engineering.

According to the Ministry of Education, about 36,000 licences have been fully funded across Coursera and Pluralsight in the first phase of the programme, making it one of the country’s largest digital skills investments.

Officials said beneficiaries will not pay any fees, as the Federal Government has covered the full cost to remove financial barriers and expand access to quality training.

The programme will be implemented in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology to ensure nationwide reach and structured learning support.