How Nigeria’s 3MTT Programme Is Building the Digital Workforce of Tomorrow

Progress & Key Achievements So Far

1. High demand & applications

   • Over 1.8 million applications from Nigerians across the country have been received. 

   • This strong response shows both demand and awareness of digital skills among youth.

2. Partnerships & funding

   • MTN Nigeria committed ₦3 billion to the programme. Of that, ₦1.45 billion has been used for technical training; ₦1.5 billion for data grants (to help learners with connectivity), plus ₦50 million for distributing Raspberry Pi kits for hands‑on learning. 

   • Microsoft Nigeria also deepened its alliance with 3MTT: funding for AI certification vouchers, offering LinkedIn Premium accounts, launching “Train‑the‑Trainer” programmes, etc. 

3. Applied Learning Clusters (ALCs) & infrastructure

   • 3MTT is deploying Applied Learning Clusters—partner organisations that host training and hands‑on practice. As of MTN’s report, 197 partner ALCs are involved. 

   • The Raspberry Pi kits reached 3,500 students in secondary schools via the Buildathon initiative. 

4. Geographic and cohort expansion

   • Training is being rolled out across states; remote learners are being included. Microsoft / other partners are setting up trainers in multiple regions. 

   • The programme has opened up opportunities for learners in underserved or low‑connectivity areas via data grants, remote access, inclusion efforts. 

What’s Working Well

• Strong public‑private collaboration: Partnerships with MTN, Microsoft and other orgs help bring funding, infrastructure, tools, and reach.

• Clear target & phased rollout: The phased model (1%, 10%, 100%) gives manageable milestones and helps monitor progress. 

• Inclusion efforts: Data grants, remote / online learning, material support like Raspberry Pi kits make it more accessible.

• High learner interest: The high number of applicants suggests that the demand is real; many young people are motivated.

Challenges & Areas Needing Attention

1. Infrastructure and connectivity gaps

   • Some regions still have unreliable internet, electricity, or lacking physical training centres. That slows the pace or limits reach.

2. Quality & consistency of training

   • Ensuring all ALCs / partner organisations maintain consistent teaching quality, mentorship, equipment, materials. Some implementing partners may face resource constraints.

3. Digital literacy & preparatory skills

   • Some participants struggle due to lack of basic digital literacy (e.g. using computers, internet, foundational skills). This can lead to dropouts or slower progress.

4. Monitoring, measurement and outcomes

   • Discerning whether training leads to jobs (local or remote), entrepreneurship, sustainability is crucial. Having data on job placement, retention, performance is still emerging.

5. Sustainability & funding

   • Ensuring continued funding, particularly for scale phases. Costs of maintaining hardware, supporting trainers, providing stipends or grants are non‑trivial.

Impacts & Implications

• Workforce development & employment: As more Nigerians become skilled in tech, the potential for job creation (in software dev, cloud services, cybersecurity, etc.) increases significantly.

• Economic growth & competitiveness: Skilled digital talent helps Nigeria attract investment, outsourcing contracts, tech companies, and more innovation.

• Bridging the digital divide: Inclusion of remote, underserved, and diverse groups supports equity and strengthens resilience.

• Boosting other sectors: Fields like healthcare, agriculture, education, fintech, etc., benefit when there are more people who can apply digital tech solutions.