By eonojakaromah 
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has revealed that MTN Nigeria will provide N3 billion in support for the government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the Minister highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“I recognize MTN Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to the 3MTT Nigeria program, with a total investment of N3 billion since its launch,” the Minister remarked, indicating that the telecommunications company has been backing the initiative for quite some time.
In March of this year, the government announced that it had received a grant of N1 billion from the Airtel Africa Foundation to enhance the initiative.
MTN as an early supporter
The Minister highlighted that MTN, as an initial supporter of the initiative, has been instrumental in providing inclusive access to digital skills for thousands of young Nigerians nationwide.
“This type of ongoing collaboration is essential for driving our vision of creating a future-ready workforce and establishing Nigeria as a net-exporter of technical talent.
As we expand the 3MTT Program, we anticipate strengthening our partnerships with the private sector to create more opportunities for our citizens and economy,” Tijani remarked.
In addition to the recent contribution from the Airtel Foundation and MTN’s N3 billion grant, the Ministry had previously entered into a N1 billion agreement with telecom infrastructure firm, IHS Tower, to develop learning communities throughout Nigeria for the 3MTT program.
The Minister clarified that the N1 billion funding from IHS Towers also encompassed a commitment to cover the salaries of 37 dedicated learning community managers at each site for three years.
What you should know
According to Tijani, the 3MTT program plays a vital role in the Renewed Hope agenda, focusing on developing Nigeria’s technical talent infrastructure to support its digital economy and establish Nigeria as a net exporter of talent.
The initiative began with 30,000 Nigerians, which accounts for 1% of the overall target of 3 million, and an additional 270,000 participants were later chosen for the second cohort, raising the total to 10%.
To meet the program’s objectives, Tijani mentioned that various phases will be implemented according to a framework developed in collaboration with key stakeholders, including government agencies, training providers, educational institutions, development organizations, and the private sector.
Nigerians are being trained in a range of skills that leverage technology to improve various roles without necessarily involving direct tech creation.
These skills encompass Digital Marketing, Project Management Software, Cloud Platforms Navigation, Data Analysis and Visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), CRM Management, Accounting Software, Graphics Design, UX/UI Design, and many others.
source : Nairametrics
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