President Bola Tinubu says his administration is laying the groundwork for a digitally skilled workforce that will drive Nigeria’s next phase of economic transformation.
Speaking on Thursday at the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) National Impact Summit and the launch of the 3MTT Digital Skills Fund in Abuja, the President—represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—reaffirmed his commitment to building a trillion-dollar economy anchored on innovation, productivity and globally competitive technical skills.
The 3MTT programme, launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to train three million young Nigerians in key technical skills, create two million tech jobs, and export surplus talent to global markets.
“Our ambition to build a trillion-dollar economy will not be achieved by chance,” President Tinubu said. “It requires productivity, innovation and a workforce whose skills meet global standards. Digital skills now underpin growth across every major sector of our economy.”
He emphasized that equipping youths with digital expertise is crucial not only for economic growth and stability but also for job creation. He added that the programme has already made nationwide impact, with over 1.8 million applications received from all 774 local government areas and thousands of trainees creating startups, tech solutions and jobs.
The President urged the 30,000 Nigerians who have completed the training to remain committed, describing them as the digital engine that will power Nigeria’s future development.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said Nigeria’s digital economy has become one of the most attractive investment destinations in Africa. He noted that the country had more than 4.5 million unfilled tech jobs when Tinubu took office, prompting the creation of the 3MTT programme as the world’s largest technology talent accelerator.
Beneficiaries of the programme also shared their experiences. Hauwa Yakubu Aliyu from Jigawa State said the training enabled her to empower local farmers using greenhouse technologies and gave her opportunities to represent Nigeria at an ICT summit in China. Adelani Adelaja, a military personnel from Lagos, said the skills he acquired have enhanced his logistics work and enabled him to train fellow officers.
Partners and development organisations commended the government’s efforts. UNDP representative Elsie Attafuah praised the administration for choosing “reform over retreat,” while the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, announced a $48 million commitment to the 3MTT Digital Skills Fund.
Corporate partners—including Google, Moniepoint, Airtel, IHS, Secure ID and Huawei—also expressed support for the initiative, applauding the government’s dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.