The Nigerian government is teaming up with business process outsourcing (BPO) firms to help connect over 117,000 Nigerians trained under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program to real job opportunities, both within Nigeria and abroad.
Speaking on Arise TV, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, explained that while training Nigerians with digital skills is important, the bigger challenge remains turning those skills into actual jobs. To tackle this, the government is now focusing on partnerships with BPO companies ready to employ the program’s graduates and offer outsourced services internationally.
Dr. Tijani revealed plans to convert some government buildings into “talent cities”, hubs where BPO companies can operate and hire graduates. This will help create spaces for thousands of trained youths to find meaningful employment and boost the growing digital economy.
The 3MTT initiative, launched in October 2023, aims to train 3 million Nigerians in four years. It is open to all Nigerians who can read and write, regardless of education level. The program already trained about 117,000 people, many of whom are interning and getting stipends. With support from telecom giants like MTN and Airtel, and development partners such as the UNDP, the training covers skills in digital marketing, data analysis, project management software, cloud platforms, graphics design, and more.
Dr. Tijani stressed Nigeria’s youthful population as a key advantage, noting that nearly 70% of Nigerians are under 30 years old, while many developed countries face aging workforces. His goal is to prepare young Nigerians not just for local jobs but also for remote roles with international companies, enabling them to earn in foreign currency while living in Nigeria.
This isn’t only about creating jobs locally. We want Nigerians ready to compete globally. Some will go abroad, but many will work for international firms from here, contributing to Nigeria’s economy – Dr Tijani
The 3MTT program, with the government’s push to expand the digital workforce, could significantly impact Nigeria’s economic future by turning trained talent into paid jobs, helping reduce unemployment, and boosting Nigeria’s digital presence worldwide.
