Federal Government Partners with Coursera to Launch National Digital Training Academy
The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a major partnership with Coursera to provide world-class digital training to Nigerian youths under the Digital Training Academy (DTA) programme, part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The agreement was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during the Education World Forum in London on Friday, May 22, 2026. The initiative aims to equip young Nigerians with globally competitive skills in high-demand areas such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and software engineering, while providing them with internationally recognised certifications valued by employers worldwide.
Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister, Ikharo Attah, explained that the programme is designed to prepare Nigerian youths for opportunities in the global digital economy. According to Dr Alausa, digital competency has become essential for success in today’s world, and the Digital Training Academy reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda’s strong emphasis on youth empowerment, innovation, and human capital development.
In what is being described as one of the largest government-funded digital skills investments in Nigeria’s history, the Federal Government has fully funded 36,000 licences on Coursera and Pluralsight for the first year of the programme. This means beneficiaries will receive access to premium courses and certifications at no personal cost, removing financial barriers that often limit young people’s access to quality digital education.
The programme will be implemented in collaboration with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH). NOUN’s nationwide network of study centres will ensure equal access for youths across all geopolitical zones, while YABATECH will provide industry-focused expertise, facilitators, and mentorship to support participants throughout the training.
Dr Alausa stressed that the initiative goes beyond simply providing access to courses. He highlighted the importance of mentorship, course completion support, and accountability mechanisms to ensure participants gain meaningful, employable skills. He described the partnership as “a covenant between the government and Nigerian youths,” assuring that the Tinubu administration will continue to invest in programmes that build the skills, confidence, and credentials needed for young Nigerians to compete on the global stage.
Coursera, a leading online learning platform partnered with top universities and companies worldwide, will give participants access to courses from institutions such as Stanford, Yale, Google, IBM, and Microsoft. Successful completion will result in shareable digital certificates that can strengthen CVs for both local and international job opportunities.
The programme is expected to boost digital innovation, reduce youth unemployment, and support Nigeria’s broader ambition to become a major player in Africa’s digital economy. It also aligns with the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and strengthening human capital development as part of long-term economic transformation.
