The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE) has unveiled an advisory committee for its 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT). The ministry also named event key leaders in Nigeria’s tech community as members.
According to a Tweet by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Committee will be chaired by Emeka Afigbo, Senior Director of Developer Success at Okta. Afigbo, a respected figure in developer relations with a background at Meta and Google, is expected to bring his expertise in building developer ecosystems across Africa to the 3MTT program.
According to him, the committee has been set up to provide oversight and guidance for the continued successful implementation of the programme. “I want to sincerely appreciate these exceptional individuals for volunteering their time and support as we look forward to benefiting from their diverse expertise and experience”, the minister said.
Other members of the Committee include Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, the founder of Future Africa, Oji Udezue, Ex-CPO, Typeform, Calendly, Twitter, Joy Omoregie- GTM Acceleration Lead – EMEA, AWS, Bola Lawal, CEO, PremiaBN and Amal Hassan, CEO, Outsource Global.
The 3 million technical talent (3MTT) program is a crucial part of the present administration’s Renewed Hope agenda. It is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power its digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter.
The goal is to train a total of 3 million Nigerians into a tech-savvy workforce, capable of contributing to the digital economy in various capacities.
According to the government’s outlined implementation plans, the training will be structured into three phases. The initial phase is set to accommodate 30,000 individuals, followed by the second phase with 300,000 participants, and the third phase will encompass the remaining 3 million.
The inaugural phase, conducted in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) engaged stakeholders, including fellows, training providers, partners, and placement organizations.
Despite a staggering 1 million applications, the program started with 30,000 Nigerians, representing 1% of the 3 million target, while the 270,000 selected for the second cohort brings the number to 10%.
The first phase also imparted skills to Nigerians that leverage technology to enhance various roles, focusing on areas such as Digital Marketing, Project Management Software, Cloud Platforms Navigation, Data Analysis and Visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), CRM Management, Accounting Software, Graphics Design, UX/UI Design, and more.
To achieve the program’s target, Tijani said the different phases will be executed based on the framework co-created with key stakeholders across government agencies, training providers, educational institutions, development agencies, and the private sector.
3MTT: FG unveils N2.8bn Google fund to train AI talents
Recall that last week, the FMCIDE announced a N2.8 billion Google fund to accelerate AI talent development across Nigeria. Provided through Google.org to Data Science Nigeria, the fund will bolster the Ministry’s ongoing AI-driven initiatives to upskill youth and under- and unemployed Nigerians, with a focus on AI skill development and education.
It is also part of Google.org’s broader $5.8 million commitment to support digital skills programs across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Earlier this year, the Ministry set the stage for AI integration in Nigeria by hosting the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) Workshop, followed by the release of the National AI Intelligence Strategy. This strategy aims to leverage AI to drive economic growth, improve governance, and enhance the well-being of all Nigerians.
In a significant step toward advancing the AI ecosystem, the Ministry and Google also announced the selected beneficiaries of the AI Fund, established by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) in collaboration with Google.
The Fund will see each selected startup receive ₦100million in funding, along with up to $3.5million in Google Cloud Credits to help scale their solutions. Additionally, these startups will gain access to Google’s world-class AI tools, mentorship from Google’s AI experts, and opportunities to connect with a global network of innovators and partners.