The Federal Ministry of Education has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy to provide free digital skills training to students and educators across the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). It aims to bridge the digital divide and empower Nigeria’s academic community with globally competitive 21st-century skills—including cloud computing, machine learning, and other emerging technologies.
Speaking at the official launch, Dr Alausa emphasised the importance of the collaboration:
“This initiative is not only timely—it is essential. We are equipping our youth and educators with the tools they need to thrive in a global digital economy.”
The pilot phase of the programme has already commenced in 43 federal universities and polytechnics. Following its early success, the Ministry is now expanding the initiative to cover all tertiary institutions in Nigeria—federal, state, and private—including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts have been urged to nominate coordinators who will liaise with AWS and the Ministry. These coordinators will identify participating lecturers, who will, in turn, enrol their students for the training.
To ensure equitable access, the certification programme will be fully sponsored: the Federal Ministry of Education will cover 50% of the certification fees, while AWS will sponsor the remaining 50%. This means that students and lecturers will receive top-tier training and internationally recognised certifications at no personal cost.
Interested institutions are encouraged to nominate their coordinators by registering via the official Ministry link:
The second phase of onboarding will begin in the coming weeks, and institutions are advised to act swiftly to benefit from this groundbreaking programme.
This bold collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education and AWS signals a progressive shift towards inclusive, innovation-driven education in Nigeria. It is a crucial step in ensuring that every student and educator in the country is equipped to succeed in today’s digital world.
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.