In its continued quest to equip Nigerians with emerging skills, the Federal Government has launched the DeepTech_Ready Upskilling program. The initiative is designed to train youths on advanced competencies in the field of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
While announcing the flagship, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, noted that the program was also part of efforts to strengthen the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative of the government.
He described the DeepTech_Ready Upskilling program as another essential step in the journey to transform Nigeria into a leading hub for digital skills and development.
“Young people across Nigeria can apply here: https://lnkd.in/e9auSgkq to get a unique opportunity to advance their tech skills in emerging technologies — with a particular focus on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) — and apply their skillset for the growth of our digital economy,” the Minister added.
The program will provide 20,000 young Nigerians with advanced technical skills in data science and AI as it prepares them for careers in this rapidly growing field.
The initiative, which will be a 6-month per cohort program will be a combination of self-paced and on-site learning with online support. Courses to be offered include Advanced Data Analysis and Visualization, Data Science/Machine Learning, Data Architecture, Geospatial Data Science and Computer Vision. Others are Natural Language Processing and Advanced Machine Learning Techniques.
On who can apply, information on the program’s website states that the training is open to 3MTT fellows and individuals with basic to intermediate knowledge in relevant technical fields.
The Minister said that the DeepTech_Ready Upskilling program is supported by Google as part of their N2.8 billion grant to upskill young Nigerians in AI. He added that the grant was part of Google.org’s broader $ 5.8 million commitment to support digital skills programs across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Also Read: 3MTT: 90,000 Nigerians selected for 3rd cohort, more to come.
Other tech programs and grants
A year ago, 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 saw each selected startup receive N100 million in funding, along with up to $ 3.5 million 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.
Also, there is the ongoing 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program which is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power its digital economy and position Nigeria as a net talent exporter.
The program started with 30,000 Nigerians, representing 1 per cent of the 3 million target, while the 270,000 selected for the second cohort increased the quota to 10 per cent. The 90,000 participants picked for the third cohort now brings the number to 13 per cent.
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.
In November 2023 the Federal Government 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.
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