The Federal Government, is set to offer six months of free training to thousands of youths in a bid to fill two million vacant IT positions.
As part of this initiative, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a substantial investment of N120 billion to revitalize the country’s technical education sector.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the announcement during the third Ministerial Press Briefing held by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, in Abuja.
The briefing also included updates from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
Alausa confirmed that the N120 billion funding, approved by President Tinubu, would drive the implementation of the Digital Training Academy (DTA), which aims to equip young Nigerians with in-demand digital skills.
He noted that the training program is expected to launch in May, with courses tailored to emerging sectors such as software development, cybersecurity, IT automation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, cloud computing, and natural language processing.
He said: “Based on UNESCO data, there are nearly two million job vacancies globally, including 650,000 in software development, 280,000 in cybersecurity, 160,000 in IT automation, and 150,000 in AI and machine learning.
Through the Digital Training Academy, we will offer six months of training to young engineers, covering certification costs for programs like Cisco, Google, and End of Career certifications.”
Alausa emphasized that this training would help Nigerians acquire the essential digital skills required to compete globally.
He also noted that the government would bear the cost of internet services for participants, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to education.
The Minister further explained that the initiative is part of the broader strategy to strengthen the country’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education efforts.
He underscored the importance of digital skills in service industries, noting that the Digital Training Academy would serve as a key platform for addressing skills gaps.
In addition to the IT training program, Alausa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to returning 10 million out-of-school children to the classrooms.
He revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education is working on new strategies to enhance access to quality education and improve foundational learning outcomes.
As part of its infrastructure plan, the government aims to reconstruct 195,000 classrooms by 2027, install 28,000 toilets, and construct 7,000 new classrooms.
Moreover, the government plans to distribute 103 million textbooks to improve learning resources across the nation.
On the topic of the proliferation of universities, Alausa voiced concern over the increasing pressure from lawmakers to establish new institutions.
He noted that nearly 200 bills were currently pending in the National Assembly, advocating for the creation of new universities.
However, he emphasized that focusing on improving the capacity of existing institutions was more pressing than adding new ones.
He said: “We must focus on rebuilding the capacities of our current universities to accommodate more students and offer more viable courses.
There is no need to keep pushing for new universities when existing ones cannot even meet current demand.”
In his comments, Alausa also touched on the ongoing National Library of Nigeria project, revealing that the Tinubu Administration has committed N40 billion to complete the long-abandoned project.
The library is expected to support academic and research development in the country.
At the same briefing, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, addressed the issue of high airfare prices.
Keyamo confirmed that the government was taking measures to curb illegal charter operations, which have resulted in significant financial losses over the years.
The new reforms will require airlines to publish approved flight lists and ensure proper documentation for chartered flights.
Regarding airfare costs, Keyamo noted that high domestic flight prices are due to the lack of affordable aircraft leasing options, with the government actively addressing this challenge.
He highlighted that international airlines had also faced challenges due to trapped funds in Nigeria, but the recent policy changes, including the withdrawal of subsidies and the floating of the naira, have improved liquidity and eased the situation.
Keyamo also revealed plans to introduce the “FlyNigeria Act,” which would prioritize Nigerian flag carriers for government-funded travel, offering a major boost to the local aviation industry.
The briefing was attended by key officials including Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Tunde Rahaman.
Heads of major agencies within the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, including NAN, NTA, VON, NOA, and FRCN, also participated in the event.
