Under the direction of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Nigeria is working to strengthen its Digital Economy through a number of projects. The government established the Broadband Alliance and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Program in recognition of the need for technical advancement. By 2027, the 3MTT Program seeks to teach three million technical talent in data analysis, machine learning, and software development. The initiative trained 30,000 people in its initial phase, which ran from December 2023 to March 2024. A further 270,000 people participated in the program’s second phase.
With 1.7 million submissions and sponsorship from more than 1,400 organizations, the program has attracted enormous interest. By tackling issues with low internet usage and a poor return on Investment in the fibre network, the Broadband Alliance aims to provide broadband access to all of Nigeria. Project 774 LG Connectivity, a major project under this program, aims to improve digital access and government service delivery by putting all 774 local government secretariats online and training workers in digital skills.
Gov’t plans to train three million youths on technical skills by 2027.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s objective of having widespread internet coverage is supported by this project, which is co-anchored by Nigerian Communications Satellite (NigComSat) and Galaxy Backbone Limited. The government has also launched the Devs in Government and Build-a-Thon programs to further encourage Technology innovation. Students are taught embedded systems through the Build-a-Thon, and government technology is used more effectively by creating a community of technologists within the Civil Service through Devs in Government. The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Program and the Broadband Alliance, two of the Nigerian government’s recent projects, are anticipated to have a major positive impact on employment and economic growth.
In order to potentially lower Unemployment among young people, who account for roughly 70% of the population, the government plans to train three million technical skills by 2027. According to projections made by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the digital economy’s share of GDP growth will increase from 18.4% to over 30% by 2030. Many 3MTT program participants reported during the program’s initial phase that the skills they learned from the training greatly increased their employability. As one participant from Lagos, John Adewale, put it, “Even with a university degree, I had trouble finding employment before enrolling in the 3MTT program. I have had several employment offers and am now a trained data analyst.
Many Nigerians still find it too expensive to access the internet.
A number of obstacles stand in the way of Nigeria’s digital transformation, notwithstanding the encouraging initiatives. Poor infrastructure, especially in rural regions, is one of the main obstacles. While 774 local government units are intended to be connected by the Broadband Alliance, only 51% of them are already online, and many isolated locations lack even the most basic internet access. Moreover, a large number of Nigerians still find it too expensive to access the internet, with data prices far greater than those of other African nations. Other major obstacles are related to regulations.
An increasingly stable regulatory framework is necessary to draw and keep tech businesses, as demonstrated by the 2020 suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria. Expanding broadband Infrastructure nationwide is the purpose of the $2 billion Fibre Fund, which the Nigerian government developed to meet the objectives of these projects. Key parties, such as private telecom companies, financial institutions, and foreign development organizations, are anticipated to contribute to the fund, which will be overseen by a special purpose company.
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Additionally, the government is pushing for measures to lower regulatory barriers and offer financial incentives to the private sector—such as Tax exemptions and subsidies—for businesses that make investments in digital infrastructure. The government wants to establish a sustainable ecosystem for digital growth by fostering greater cooperation between public and private organizations. These projects will require ongoing financial support as well as legislative backing in order to remain viable. In order to guarantee continued funding for digital projects after the initial stage, the government intends to create a Digital Economy Development Fund.