Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has said the Federal Government is deliberately creating structured employment pathways for beneficiaries of the Three Million Technical Talents (3MTT) programme to ensure the training translates into real jobs.
Tijani made this known on Friday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed growing concerns about whether participants in the programme are able to secure employment after completing their training.
According to the minister, the 3MTT initiative goes beyond skills acquisition and places strong emphasis on job readiness and placement, noting that success in the technology sector requires more than theoretical learning.
“We actually have a dedicated team that is focused on placement. What we’ve realised in technology is that it’s one thing to spend six months learning; it’s another thing to be ready for the jobs out there,” he said.
He explained that the ministry designed a placement framework that transitions trained participants into internship opportunities within technology companies, helping them gain real-world experience that employers demand.
“We’ve actually created a programme that puts these folks into internship positions in some of the technology companies,” Tijani stated.
The minister revealed that in situations where companies were reluctant to take on interns due to cost concerns or doubts about immediate productivity, the government secured external support to bridge the gap.
“In cases where companies say, ‘We don’t need interns because we don’t want to pay them; they won’t add value immediately,’ we secured the support of the EU and UNDP through the Jubilee Fellowship Programme to pay their salaries for one year,” he said.
Tijani disclosed that the initiative has so far supported nearly 3,000 interns and facilitated job placements for more than 15,000 trainees, while acknowledging that the figures are still modest compared to the programme’s long-term targets.
“We know the number is small, but we keep polishing these people,” he added.
He further noted that the ministry is actively working to expand access to global employment opportunities for beneficiaries, revealing that several international companies are interested in hiring Nigerian tech talent to work from within the country.
“Many foreign companies want Nigerian talent to work locally,” he said.
The minister also explained that the government is signing agreements with business process outsourcing partners to connect trained participants with remote job roles, thereby increasing their chances of sustainable employment.
Tijani said the 3MTT programme was conceived by President Bola Tinubu as part of a broader strategy to grow Nigeria’s digital economy and address critical skills shortages, adding that the pace of global digital innovation also shaped the structure of the initiative.
What you should know
The Three Million Technical Talents programme is a flagship Federal Government initiative aimed at equipping Nigerians with in-demand digital and technology skills.
Beyond training, the programme is designed to address unemployment by linking beneficiaries to internships, local jobs, and remote global opportunities. With support from international partners such as the EU and UNDP, the government is funding internship placements to ensure trainees gain practical experience.
The initiative reflects a broader push to strengthen Nigeria’s digital workforce, close skills gaps, and position the country as a competitive hub for global tech talent.
