The Nigerian Federal Government has successfully secured over N6.45 billion in private-sector financial backing to significantly scale up its ambitious 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme across the nation.
Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, announced the major inflow of support at the 3MTT National Impact Summit in Abuja. The newly committed funds from key industry players—IHS, MTN, and Airtel—are designated to bolster the programme’s training facilities, broaden its reach into local communities, and create enhanced opportunities for young Nigerians pursuing technology careers.
The new financial pledges break down as follows: IHS contributed N2.5 billion, MTN N2.95 billion, and Airtel N1 billion. This support builds upon earlier contributions, including N1 billion from IHS and N3 billion from MTN, which laid the groundwork for the initiative’s current structure. Global technology giants, including AWS, Google, Huawei, and Microsoft, are also providing non-financial support, underscoring the widespread interest in the project.
The 3MTT programme, launched in October 2023 with the goal of training three million Nigerians in digital and technical skills by 2027, has seen an overwhelming response. The Minister revealed that over 1.8 million Nigerian youths registered within the first month of its launch, using their National Identification Number (NIN) or Bank Verification Number (BVN) to ensure unique identification.
The initiative is already yielding tangible results. Over the past two years, approximately 135,000 Nigerians have been trained. More than 15,000 individuals from the first cohort have secured employment, with many reporting salaries exceeding N250,000. Furthermore, graduates have secured advanced study opportunities abroad, showcasing the programme’s impact on human capital development.
The training rollout is structured in phases: 30,000 learners commenced in Phase 1 (December 2023), Phase 2 targets one million trainees by July 2024, leading up to the final phase aiming for the three million target next year. To facilitate this expansion, the government has established 201 applied learning centres nationwide, alongside engaging 583 learning partners and 37 community managers.
President Bola Tinubu, represented at the summit, emphasized that Nigeria’s aspiration to become a $1 trillion economy is directly dependent on investing in digital talent and boosting youth productivity. He highlighted the cross-sector relevance of digital competence, spanning agriculture, health, finance, and manufacturing, positioning Nigeria for international competitiveness.
The administration has coupled the skills drive with significant infrastructure reforms, including approving the deployment of 4,000 telecom infrastructures in rural areas to connect 23 million Nigerians, a $2 billion project to deploy 90,000 km of fibre, and the designation of telecom infrastructure as critical national assets. This holistic approach, Tijani noted, integrates Nigeria’s youth into the digital economy and reaffirms that every reform is intended for the benefit of the average Nigerian citizen.
The consensus from both government and industry is that continued collaboration among public, private, and development partners is essential to sustaining and expanding digital and technical skills across the nation.
