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From Juliana Taiwo-Obaloye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has stated that at the heart of Nigeria’s drive to hit a $1 trillion economy target lies a vital focus on cultivating a digital workforce that can compete globally.
Speaking on Thursday during the 3MTT National Impact Summit held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the President affirmed that digital skills are now indispensable to boosting productivity in every sector of the economy.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu detailed how the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative anchors his administration’s strategy to broaden opportunities for young Nigerians and lay a foundation for sustained economic growth.
“Nigeria’s most valuable resource is not oil or minerals, but the creativity, determination and potential of our people,” Tinubu stated. He observed that nations leading the fast-evolving global economy are those deliberately investing in the skills of their youth.
The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda places human capital development at the centre of economic reform, recognising that digital competencies drive progress across agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, education and public service.
“Our ambition to build a one trillion-dollar economy will not be achieved by chance. It requires productivity, innovation and a workforce whose skills meet global standards,” he declared.
Tinubu further noted that a digitally skilled workforce does more than generate jobs—it deepens competitiveness, grows enterprises and positions Nigeria as a creator and exporter of technology talent, not just a consumer.
The 3MTT programme exemplifies disciplined execution, Tinubu said, revealing it has drawn over 1.8 million applications nationwide—covering all 36 states and the FCT. The initiative has triggered new job placements, empowered young entrepreneurs and created practical tech solutions.
“For the first time, opportunity is no longer confined to major cities,” he added, applauding the programme’s restoration of confidence among Nigeria’s youth in their place within the digital economy.
Tinubu also praised the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for its leadership and thanked private partners such as IHS Towers, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, UNDP and the European Union for their crucial support.
“This Nigeria we seek must be powered by skilled hands, guided by innovative thinking and driven by a generation ready to work, create and lead,” the President reaffirmed.
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Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, credited the programme’s success directly to President Tinubu’s robust digital economy policies since coming into office.
He highlighted several breakthroughs: the National Data Protection Commission Act, the launch of 3MTT in October 2023, $2 billion investment in 90,000 km of fibre optic infrastructure in May 2024—the largest of its kind in the developing world—and designating telecom and ICT assets as Critical National Infrastructure.
Tijani also pointed out tariff adjustments approved in January 2025 that revived the sector after a decade, and the deployment of 4,000 telecom towers bringing internet access to 23 million previously underserved Nigerians.
“These reforms, together with tax harmonisation under national tax reforms, have positioned Nigeria as one of Africa’s most attractive digital investment hubs,” the Minister stated.
Elaborating on 3MTT’s scale, Tijani shared that although 1.8 million Nigerians applied—with identity verification via NIN or BVN—the programme initially trained 30,000 fellows and is concluding the current 300,000-fellow phase. Already, over 15,000 graduates have secured formal jobs, with many earning over ₦250,000 monthly for the first time.
Support infrastructure includes 201 active learning centres nationwide, 600 facilitators, 15 e-learning partners and 37 state managers funded by IHS Towers. Private investments reach billions of naira: SCC donated laptops worth ₦1.5 billion, IHS Towers contributed over ₦2.5 billion towards tech hubs, MTN invested ₦3 billion, Airtel ₦1 billion, alongside assistance from Google, AWS, Microsoft and others.
“This programme shows how government, industry and youth united behind a shared vision can achieve transformative results,” Tijani emphasised.
With projections estimating 170 million new technology jobs globally by 2030 and Nigeria’s median age just 16.9 years, he remains optimistic about Nigeria’s potential to become a top digital talent exporter.
Looking ahead, the 3MTT initiative plans to scale partnerships for job placements, upgrade learning quality, implement a national talent operating system and secure sustainable funding.
“We believe 3MTT must continue because its impact on GDP, productivity and global competitiveness will be profound,” Tijani concluded.
