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    The European Union and the Government of Denmark have pledged an additional $12.9 million (€11 million) to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, giving fresh momentum to the country’s push to build a stronger digital workforce.

    The funding was announced during the 3MTT Partner Network launch, where the initiative officially transitioned from pilot stage to full implementation as 3MTT 2.0.

    The investment will support plans to train 3 million Nigerians in high-demand tech fields, including software development, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

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    Equipping Nigeria’s Youth For Digital Revolution

    This funding was announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, during the official launch of the 3MTT Partner Network in Lagos. The contribution will be split, $5.9 million (€5M) from the EU and $6.9 million (€6M) from the Danish government.

    Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, addressed the gathering, describing the funding as a strategic alignment between Nigeria’s youth and the global demand for digital talent. 

    “Without ubiquitous and meaningful access, there’s not much you can do,” Tijani said. “Without talent, there’s really not much that a nation can do with digital technology.” 

    He emphasised that a country’s competitive edge depends on its “absorptive capacity” – adopting, adapting, and deploying digital tech effectively. Tijani linked this to connectivity, governance, and human capital. Nigeria’s young population positions it to fill Europe’s technical skills gap, he added, noting an ageing European workforce and a growing Nigerian youth population. 

    But an underutilised youth population carries risks, including social and economic vulnerabilities. The 3MTT programme seeks to turn this demographic into a national asset.

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    The Partners Powering the 3MTT Initiative

    Leading corporate partners such as IHS Towers, MTN, Airtel, AWS, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, the EU, and UNDP have committed over $25 billion to support the programme’s scaling. Tijani said this private-sector backing represents one of the largest mobilisations behind a national talent initiative.

    The minister pushed for an endowment-style funding structure to sustain the programme beyond single administrations. Representing international partners were Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; Anna Constantino, geo-coordination for Nigeria at the European Commission; and Inga Steffen-Woesey. Delegates from Finland, Spain, Belgium, Niger, and Eurasia also attended. 

    De Luca described 3MTT as a policy-driven effort to build globally relevant digital skills, not just a certification programme. The 3MTT programme will scale deliberately from 1% to 10% to full national coverage. So far, it’s trained 135,000 fellows through 200 learning centers, with three cohorts completed. 

    The approach focuses on structured, applied learning – self-paced modules and hands-on sessions – via partnerships with 120+ training providers. The programme targets young Nigerians, including graduates and members of underserved communities, and requires no prior tech experience.

    How 3MTT 2.0 Will Be Operated

    The launch of 3MTT 2.0 will shift the focus from training volumes to long-term outcomes, including job placement, support for entrepreneurship, and innovation. Officials said the next phase will drive talent contribution to local and global markets. 

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    The programme is key to the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, which aims to expand the digital economy and become a net exporter of tech talent. The €11 million boost will fund curriculum development, infrastructure, and partnerships, targeting three million trainees. 

    Tijani stressed that connectivity and governance frameworks are crucial alongside skills training. The Partner Network Launch brought together officials, partners, and institutions to formalise collaboration and create an operational backbone for nationwide scaling.

    Main Image: Delegates at the 3MTT Partner Network launch

    The post Nigeria’s 3MTT Gets $12.9M Boost to Train 3 Million Tech Workers appeared first on UrbanGeekz.

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