President Bola Tinubu on Thursday declared that his administration is actively building a robust digital workforce crucial for driving Nigeria’s next phase of economic growth, leveraging the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as a foundation.
Speaking at the 3MTT National Impact Summit at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, framed the initiative as a core plank of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the definitive route to achieving a trillion-dollar economy driven by productivity and innovation.
Investment in Human Capital
President Tinubu underscored the significance of investing in youth skills, stating that Nigeria’s most valuable asset is its human capital, not its mineral wealth.
“Together, we are laying the foundation for a digital workforce that will power Nigeria’s next chapter of growth and shared prosperity. Nigeria’s most valuable resource is not oil or minerals, but the creativity, determination and potential of our people,” the President noted, adding that leading countries invest purposefully in the skills of their young populations.
He emphasized that digital skills now underpin growth across vital sectors including agriculture, healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education, and the public service, signaling Nigeria’s shift from a consumer of technology to a creator that exports talent and solutions.
Nationwide Impact and Future Scale
The President credited the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for successfully stewarding the program “from concept to nationwide impact,” citing impressive metrics:
* Over 1.8 million applications drawn from every local government.
* New jobs created, start-ups formed, and solutions developed across all 36 states and the FCT, ensuring opportunity is no longer confined to major cities.
The initiative, launched in 2023, is the Federal Government’s flagship digital-skills pipeline, aiming to train and place three million Nigerians in market-ready tech roles over multiple cohorts, utilizing a nationwide network of community hubs and online learning.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijjani, reiterated the goal: to expand Nigeria’s digital workforce, boost productivity, and shift the country from consuming technology to creating and exporting talent. He added that 3MTT delivers structured tracks in high-demand fields such as software engineering, data (analysis/science), product management, UI/UX, cloud, cybersecurity, AI/ML, DevOps, game development, and IoT.
The program uses a fellows-and-facilitators model, industry-aligned curricula, and pathways to work including internships, apprenticeships, and job matching.
Private Sector Backing and Government Commitment
President Tinubu acknowledged the crucial backing of private sector and development partners, including IHS Towers, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, UNDP, and the European Union.
While celebrating the progress, he stressed the need for scale and continuity, saying “From inception, 3MTT was designed to scale and to drive sustained transformation of digital and technical skills across the country.” He added that achieving the vision requires “continued collaboration and shared commitment from government, industry and the development community.”
The President offered a direct assurance to young Nigerians, pledging, “Through initiatives like 3MTT, we are building genuine platforms for progress, not ceremonial commitments.”
He concluded that the Nigeria his administration seeks “must be powered by skilled hands, guided by innovative thinking and driven by a generation ready to work, create and lead,” confirming the government remains fully committed to its growth and expansion while restoring confidence among young people that they have a place in the global digital economy.
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