Nigeria partners Coursera to offer free AI training to 36,000 youths

The Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with Coursera to launch the Digital Training Academy (DTA), offering 36,000 young Nigerians free, world-class digital education in high-demand technology fields.

The Minister for Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative while at the Education World Forum 2026 in London, where he also signed the agreement. The program will provide training in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering, and other in-demand digital skills.

After completing the program, participants will earn globally recognised certifications that are highly valued by employers.

The federal government has also fully funded 36,000 licenses on Coursera and Pluralsight for the first year, removing cost as a barrier to training for eligible Nigerian youths. Alausa hailed this as one of the largest government investments in digital skills in Nigerian history.

The programme will be implemented in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), combining Coursera’s online learning infrastructure with institutional support and industry-focused mentorship on the ground.

“Digital competency is no longer optional. It is foundational,” Alausa said in a post on X. “We are building a generation of young Nigerians that can compete, lead and thrive in the global digital economy.”

Coursera to connect Nigerian graduates with global tech employers

The initiative comes as Nigeria faces a significant gap between the skills its graduates enter the workforce with and what employers, both local and international, actually need.

Despite rapid global growth in AI, cybersecurity, and cloud computing jobs, credible and affordable training in these fields remains limited for most young Nigerians, especially those outside major cities.

By routing the programme through NOUN, which has a nationwide presence, and YABATECH, one of Nigeria’s most established technology-focused institutions, the government is attempting to extend reach beyond Lagos and Abuja to students and young professionals across the country.

The Coursera partnership provides participants with access to course content developed by leading global universities and companies, the same materials available to learners in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Meanwhile, the government’s funding eliminates the subscription cost that would otherwise make these resources inaccessible to most Nigerian youths.

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