3,000 3MTT graduates to get UNDP internship for one year

The Federal Government has partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to facilitate paid internships for 3,000 participants enrolled in the 3 Million Technical Training (3MTT) initiative. The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, made the official announcement on Tuesday, setting the stage for the program’s inaugural cohort launch scheduled for Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

Despite a staggering 1 million applications, the first phase of the 3MTT program, designed to train 3 million Nigerians within the next 4 years, will initially admit only 30,000 fellows, with notifications for the participants expected tomorrow.

Practical application opportunities unveiled by the Federal Government

While announcing the partnership with UNDP,  the Minister said the internship offer would enable the trained fellows to apply the skills they have learned in the program.

“We are pleased to announce a partnership with @UNDPNigeria to offer 3,000 paid internships to our 3MTT fellows. These 12-month internships will help fulfil our objective to ensure that participants in the 3MTT program get placed in roles that will allow them to apply the skills they learn in the program,” the Minister said in a post on X.

The selection process for the 3,000 beneficiaries of the internship opportunity remains undisclosed, as the Minister refrained from specifying whether this group will be drawn from the initial 30,000 cohort or distributed across subsequent program batches.

This collaboration with UNDP marks the government’s second agreement since preparations for the 3MTT program began. Before this, the Minister had unveiled a N1 billion funding commitment from IHS Telecom, which not only supports the program but also covers salaries for 37 dedicated learning community managers at each location over the next 3 years.

The Minister detailed that the skills imparted during the initial phase of the program involve various non-tech creation roles that leverage technology. These skills include Digital Marketing, Project Management Software, Cloud platform navigation, Data Analysis and Visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), CRM Management, Accounting Software, Graphics Design, and UX/UI Design.

Speaking on this, the 3 Million Technical Training (3MTT) program in Nigeria, backed by government partnerships, is poised to bring societal upliftment. The collaboration with the UNDP for paid internships will have a transformative impact on employment rates and skill empowerment.

Read More: 3MTT applicants can now get OTP via SMS after the email hurdle

Empowering communities: A grassroots perspective

At the heart of this transformative initiative lies a commitment to empower communities at the grassroots level. The 3 Million Technical Training (3MTT) program’s funding, including provisions for dedicated learning community managers, exemplifies a localized approach to skill development. By nurturing talent in various regions, the program not only strengthens the skills of individuals but also enriches the fabric of local communities.

Read More: Bosun Tijani says over 1m applicants for FG’s 3MTT program to undergo AI training