Nigeria building digital workforce to fuel Nigeria’s $1trn economy dream —Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
President Bola Tinubu has declared on Thursday that his administration is forging a youthful digital workforce to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation, emphasising technical skills as the cornerstone of a trillion-dollar economy.
This was obtained in a statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).
Speaking at the State House Conference Centre during the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) National Impact Summit and the launch of the 3MTT Digital Skills Fund—chaired on his behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—Tinubu highlighted the program’s rapid success. Launched in 2023 by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, 3MTT aims to train three million young Nigerians in critical tech skills, generate two million jobs, and export surplus talent.
“Our ambition to build a trillion-dollar economy will not be achieved by chance. It requires productivity, innovation and a workforce whose skills meet global standards,” Tinubu stated.
He added, “Digital skills now underpin growth across every major sector of our economy, including agriculture, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education and public service.”
The President urged the 30,000 trained participants to stay focused, noting the program’s reach: “From over 1.8 million applications drawn from every local government in the country, to new jobs created, startups formed and solutions developed, 3MTT has moved from concept to nationwide impact across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.”
Minister Bosun Tijani praised Tinubu’s vision, revealing over 4.5 million vacant tech jobs existed when the President took office in 2023.
“This led to the resolve to establish the world’s largest technology talent accelerator in 3MTT, for the sole purpose of training premium technical talent, not just for the Nigerian market,” Tijani said.
Hauwa Yakubu Aliyu from Jigawa State credited 3MTT for equipping her to teach farmers greenhouse methods and earning a fully funded trip to China’s Huawei ICT Tech4Good Global Summit: “Through 3MTT, I received some of the most life-changing opportunities of my journey so far. I was given a fully funded trip to China, a brand-new laptop, which became the tool that supported my learning.”
Adelani Adelaja, a military personnel from Lagos, developed logistics solutions and now trains colleagues in digital skills.
UNDP representative Elsie Attafuah lauded Nigeria’s reforms: “Nigeria has chosen reform over retreat, courage over comfort, and the future over the past.”
EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot pledged $48 million to the 3MTT Digital Skills Fund. Partners like Google, Moniepoint, Airtel, IHS, Secure ID, and Huawei also extended goodwill, commending the supportive environment for tech and telecom growth.
