The Federal Government has set aside about ₦4 billion to support digital and technical skills training in Nigeria, with funding tied to verified job and business opportunities.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy announced the development on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, while opening applications for organisations and individual experts interested in partnering with the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme to train Nigerians.
The initiative is designed to bring together organisations and experts who can provide digital and technical skills training, helping Nigerians prepare for employment, freelance work and entrepreneurship.
According to the Ministry, the funding will support verified outcomes in Cohorts 5 and 6 of the programme, with Cohort 5 backed by the European Union and Denmark through the GIZ Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria, HAUS and ESTDEV. The programme also received a grant from the MacArthur Foundation through Blue Sapphire Hub.
The new approach shifts attention from simply increasing the number of people trained to ensuring that the skills acquired match what employers and businesses actually need.
Under the model, selected training partners will receive funding based on verified results, strengthening the connection between skills acquisition and employment opportunities.
Speaking on the initiative, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, said reaching the target of three million technical talents required a system that responds to industry needs and provides opportunities across communities.
He explained that the approach would strengthen the connection between skills, jobs and economic opportunities while building the talent pipeline Nigeria needs to compete in the global digital economy.
Organisations and individual experts accepted into the programme will fall into two categories: Enabled Delivery Partners and Funded Delivery Partners.
Funded Delivery Partners will be organisations with confirmed demand for skilled workers, either to fill positions within their organisations or to place workers with their clients. They will identify their staffing needs, participate in selecting suitable trainees and receive funding based on verified outcomes.
Enabled Delivery Partners, on the other hand, will comprise organisations and individual experts involved in skills training, whether or not they operate from physical training centres.
They will have access to resources such as the 3MTT Talent Operating System, the National Talent Registry, information on the skills employers need, device financing opportunities and other partner resources, subject to eligibility.
The Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, said the EU was proud to support Nigeria’s efforts to turn the potential of young people into employment opportunities.
He described the initiative as a way of funding results rather than training alone, while connecting skilled young Nigerians directly to work.
Since its launch in 2023, more than 1.8 million Nigerians have registered on the 3MTT platform, while 179,000 fellows have received training across four cohorts and the DeepTech programme.
The Ministry also disclosed that more than 300,000 Nigerians have benefited from the programme’s wider community resources and opportunities. It added that over 200 partner organisations have been involved in its implementation across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Ministry is also inviting employers, funders, technology companies, state governments and research organisations to join the wider 3MTT Partner Network as the programme works towards its target of training three million Nigerians.
Applications are open to organisations and individual experts in Nigeria and abroad through delivery.3mtt.gov.ng
Organisations seeking Cohort 5 funding can apply individually or as part of a consortium. However, applications must be led by an organisation registered and operating in Nigeria.
The deadline for Cohort 5 funding applications is 11:59 p.m. (WAT) on Monday, November 30, 2026. Applications for general membership of the training network will remain open, with reviews conducted quarterly.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.