Nigeria’s drive to build a competitive digital workforce continues to gather pace, with the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, revealing that the Federal Government’s flagship 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative has secured more than N6.45 billion in funding commitments from three major private-sector partners. Tijani made the announcement during the 3MTT National Impact Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, where government officials, industry leaders, and development partners convened to evaluate the programme’s nationwide impact.
According to the minister, the substantial funding commitments have come from IHS, MTN, and Airtel, each supporting different components of the programme’s structure. IHS pledged N2.5 billion to strengthen the operational backbone of 3MTT through the provision of community managers, engagement initiatives, and infrastructure support across the country. MTN’s contribution includes N1.45 billion for training and device support, in addition to N1.5 billion worth of data dedicated to learners in the programme. Airtel, on its part, committed N1 billion to drive the 3MTT NextGen initiative, which focuses on nurturing young innovators and emerging digital builders.
Launched in October 2023, the 3MTT programme was designed as an ambitious effort to train three million Nigerians within four years, equipping them with practical technical and tech-enabled skills relevant to today’s labour market. Tijani noted that the programme has not only expanded rapidly but has also begun delivering measurable economic benefits. A progress presentation shared during the summit indicated that over 15,000 jobs have already been created, with beneficiaries earning an average monthly income of about N250,000—a significant step towards reducing unemployment and strengthening Nigeria’s digital talent pipeline.
Furthermore, more than N400 million has been awarded through incentives, competitions, and grants, helping learners turn their ideas, prototypes, and solutions into viable opportunities. The minister also highlighted the complementary impact of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme, which has supported graduates in gaining work experience and navigating a fast-changing labour market.
Looking forward, Tijani emphasized that the next phase of the 3MTT initiative will focus heavily on private-sector partnerships, improved job-placement pipelines, and the continuous development of high-quality learning centres in all states. He also mentioned plans to establish a sustainable endowment that guarantees long-term funding for digital talent development, ensuring that the programme does not rely solely on government budget cycles.
President Bola Tinubu, represented at the summit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, reaffirmed the strategic role of 3MTT in the administration’s broader economic reforms. According to him, the programme has evolved from a bold concept to a truly national intervention, drawing over 1.8 million applications from across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas. He noted that the initiative has helped democratize access to digital skills, enabling young Nigerians outside major cities to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
The president also commended the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for driving the initiative with purpose and professionalism, while acknowledging the programme’s private-sector and development partners—Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, UNDP, the EU, and others—for adding credibility, structure, and global relevance to the effort.
The 3MTT programme began with an initial cohort of 30,000 learners, representing just 1% of the overall target. A second cohort of 270,000 learners brought participation to 10%, illustrating the programme’s growing scale. To meet its long-term goal, Tijani explained that the initiative relies on a co-created execution framework involving government agencies, training institutions, development bodies, and private-sector players.
Participants are currently being trained in a wide range of tech-enabled and digital competencies—including data analysis, cloud platform navigation, SEO, digital marketing, project-management software, CRM tools, graphics design, and UX/UI design, among others—allowing them to thrive in tech-driven roles even without becoming software developers.
With strong political backing, private-sector investment, and rising youth participation, the 3MTT programme appears poised to become one of Nigeria’s most significant digital-capacity-building efforts in decades.
Emmanuel Bassey is a Financial Expert that has worked in the Banking and Finance Industry for over 15+ years across different banks in Nigeria
