Nigeria Selects First 16,000-Learner Cohort for Its Digital Training Academy

Nigeria's Federal Government announced on September 9, 2026 that 16,000 Nigerians had been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Digital Training Academy (DTA) unveiled by Education Minister Olatunji Alausa on August 7, 2026. The DTA received 72,850 applications from all 36 states and the FCT during registration (August 17–September 1), of which 19,699 met the qualifying benchmark; 16,000 were selected for the free programme, delivered via Coursera and Pluralsight under the Nigeria Education Digital Infrastructure (NEDI) initiative, part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). A national launch is scheduled for September 14, 2026. 'This cohort of 16,000 is DTA's first, not its last. It represents a significant step toward the Academy's national ambition,' said Adebayo Onibanjo, National Coordinator.