University students learning accounting principles and financial analysis for their business administration courses, leveraging textbooks and digital tools in the campus library. Entrepreneurship.
The Federal Government has announced plans to launch a six-month free skills training programme to bridge the country’s critical skills gap and address two million job vacancies across various industries.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the initiative, set to commence in June 2025, is part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to equip Nigerians with in-demand skills.
Alausa explained that the programme would be implemented through the Digital Training Academy (DTA) and would focus on high-demand fields such as software development, cybersecurity, IT automation, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
“According to UNESCO data, there are 650,000 vacancies in software development methodologies, 280,000 in cybersecurity, and 160,000 in IT and automation,” he stated.
“As a government, we will cover the cost of internet services for participants and provide certification, including Cisco, End-of-Career, and Google certifications,” he added.
He emphasised that the initiative would not only help Nigerians secure employment but also enhance the country’s global competitiveness in the digital economy.
Alausa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as a long-term strategy to address Nigeria’s skill gaps.
