FG opens 3MTT Cohort 5 applications, secures N4b funding

As NITDA trains 2.8m Nigerians, mobilises $151.2m for tech startups

Federal Government has opened applications for the fifth cohort of its 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, with about N4 billion in partner funding earmarked to support digital skills training and employment opportunities.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy said the funding would support verified outcomes under Cohorts 5 and 6 of the initiative.

In a statement yesterday, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Minister, Isime Esene, said applications were open to organisations and individual experts seeking to join the 3MTT Delivery Network.

The programme aims to expand Nigeria’s pool of skilled technology professionals by connecting technical training with actual employment opportunities, freelance work and entrepreneurship.

The ministry said Cohort 5 would place greater emphasis on industry demand and measurable employment outcomes rather than simply increasing the number of people trained.

Under the new arrangement, participating organisations must demonstrate clear demand for skilled workers before accessing funding.

MEANWHILE, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has trained and certified approximately 2.8 million Nigerians in digital skills, supported more than 700 startups and mobilised $151.2 million in funding for technology businesses.

The achievements formed part of the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2.0), which covered the 2024–2026 period.

NITDA also developed about 17 regulatory standards and frameworks, while its clearance of public sector information technology projects worth N2.77 trillion generated estimated cost savings of N141 billion.

The agency disclosed these figures yesterday during a stakeholders’ engagement workshop on the review of SRAP 2.0, held on the sidelines of the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.