Nigeria Launches Major Digital Training Academy with Coursera to Upskill Youth in Tech

Nigeria has launched a major digital skills initiative following a new partnership signed with Coursera  on the sidelines of the Education World Forum 2026 in London. The agreement was announced by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and introduces the Digital Training Academy (DTA), a programme aimed at equipping young Nigerians with globally competitive digital skills.

The initiative will provide structured training in high-demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, and Software Engineering. Participants will also earn internationally recognised certifications designed to enhance their employability in the global digital economy.

As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Federal Government has fully funded 36,000 Coursera and Pluralsight licences in the first year of the programme. This intervention is intended to remove financial barriers and expand access to world-class digital education for Nigerian youths.

The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)) and the Yaba College of Technology (Yaba College of Technology), combining nationwide reach with academic support, mentorship, and industry-aligned training.

According to Dr. Alausa, the initiative represents one of the largest government-funded digital skills investments in Nigeria’s history and reflects a commitment to preparing young people for the global digital economy. He emphasized that digital competency is now essential for competitiveness and economic participation.

He also expressed appreciation to Coursera, NOUN, and YABATECH for their collaboration in delivering the programme, noting that it is designed to build a new generation of Nigerian talent capable of competing, leading, and thriving globally.