By Ayo Ayodele
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu says his administration is laying a strong foundation for a youthful digital workforce that will drive Nigeria’s economic transformation and support the nation’s ambition to build a trillion-dollar economy.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) National Impact Summit and the launch of the 3MTT Digital Skills Fund—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—the President said the future of work and national growth depends on technical skills, innovation and globally competitive talent.
The 3MTT programme, launched in 2023, aims to train three million young Nigerians in essential digital skills, create two million tech jobs and export surplus talent. Tinubu noted that digital skills are now central to growth in agriculture, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education and public service.
“A strong digital workforce creates jobs, expands enterprise and positions Nigeria competitively in the global marketplace,” he said, adding that the programme has moved “from concept to nationwide impact” with over 1.8 million applications and 30,000 graduates.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described Nigeria’s digital economy as one of the fastest-growing investment destinations in Africa, noting that the 3MTT initiative was created to address a global shortage of skilled tech workers.
Beneficiaries shared testimonies of new jobs, international exposure, scholarships and tech innovations developed through the programme. Development partners, including the UNDP and the European Union—which pledged $48 million to the Digital Skills Fund—commended the administration’s focus on reform and youth empowerment. Major private-sector partners such as Google, Moniepoint, Airtel, IHS, Secure ID and Huawei also pledged continued support.