3MTT secures an additional €11 million funding for tech talent building in Nigeria

The European Union and the Government of Denmark have committed an additional €11 million to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. The funding was announced on Thursday, March 26, 2026, during the official launch of the 3MTT Partner Network in Lagos, which also marked the transition from its pilot phase into full implementation under 3MTT 2.0.

The €11 million contribution consists of €5 million from the EU and €6 million from the Danish government. It forms part of broader international support for Nigeria’s digital skills initiative, which aims to train three million Nigerians in high-demand technical areas, including software development, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, addressed the gathering and described the funding as a strategic alignment between Nigeria’s youth population and global demand for digital talent. 

“Without ubiquitous and meaningful access, there’s not much you can do,” Tijani said. “Without talent, there’s really not much that a nation can do with digital technology.”

He emphasised that a country’s competitive edge depends on its “absorptive capacity”, the ability to adopt, adapt and deploy digital technologies effectively. Tijani linked this to three core elements: connectivity, governance and human capital.

Nigeria’s large and growing youth population positions the country to address a worldwide shortage of technical skills, he added. Europe faces an ageing workforce and declining talent pools, while Nigeria can supply skilled professionals to global markets. At the same time, Tijani noted that an underutilised youth population carries risks, including social and economic vulnerabilities. The 3MTT programme seeks to convert this demographic into a national asset.

Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Pioneer corporate partners have committed more than $25 billion in support for the programme’s scaling. These include IHS Towers, MTN, Airtel, AWS, Google, Microsoft, Huawei, Moniepoint, the EU and UNDP. Tijani said the private-sector involvement represents one of the largest mobilisations behind a single national talent initiative.

Minister of “tech” calls for sustainable funding for 3MTT

The minister called for the creation of an endowment-style funding structure to ensure the programme’s sustainability beyond any single administration.

Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented the international partners at the event. He was joined by Anna Constantino, geo-coordination for Nigeria at the European Commission headquarters, and Inga Steffen-Woesey. Delegates from the embassies of Finland, Spain and Belgium, as well as representatives from Niger and Eurasia, also attended.

De Luca described 3MTT as a policy-driven effort to develop globally relevant digital skills rather than a simple certification programme.

The 3MTT programme was designed with a deliberate scaling model: beginning at 1 per cent of the target, moving to 10 per cent, and eventually reaching full national coverage. It has so far completed three cohorts, training 135,000 fellows through 200 active learning centers across the country. The approach avoids traditional short-term bootcamps in favour of structured, applied learning that includes self-paced modules and hands-on sessions.

Implementation is handled through partnerships with over 120 training providers and placement organisations. The programme targets young Nigerians, including graduates and those from underserved communities, without requiring prior technical experience.

Attendees at the 3MTT Partner Network

With the launch of 3MTT 2.0, the focus shifts from initial training volumes to long-term outcomes. Officials said the next phase will emphasise job placement, entrepreneurship support, and the creation of environments where trained talent can innovate and contribute to both local and international markets.

The programme forms a central part of the federal government’s Renewed Hope agenda to expand the digital economy. It aims to produce a net exporter of technical talent while addressing domestic needs for skilled workers in public and private sectors.

Tijani said the €11 million boost will support curriculum development, learning infrastructure and partnership coordination as the initiative moves toward its three-million target. He reiterated that meaningful connectivity and governance frameworks must accompany skills training to deliver results.

The Partner Network Launch brought together government officials, diplomatic representatives, corporate partners and training institutions to formalise collaboration for the scaling phase. Organisers said the network will serve as the operational backbone for sustaining and expanding the programme nationwide.

Also read: From Jigawa to China: Hauwa Aliyu’s journey reflects how 3MTT is refining tech talent in Northern Nigeria

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