In a major push to drive digital literacy and innovation, the Federal Government of Nigeria has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy to roll out a free digital skills development programme across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The initiative, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). It is designed to bridge the digital skills gap by equipping Nigerian students and educators with cutting-edge knowledge in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other emerging technologies.
At the official launch, Dr. Alausa described the programme as “a timely and essential intervention,” stating that it will position young Nigerians and educators to thrive in today’s global tech economy.
The pilot phase has already commenced in 43 federal universities and polytechnics, and based on its early success, the programme is now set to expand to all tertiary institutions—including federal, state, and private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts have been directed to appoint institutional coordinators who will serve as the primary liaison between their schools, AWS, and the Ministry. These coordinators will help onboard lecturers, who will then enrol their students in the programme.
To ensure full participation, the digital certification programme will be 100% sponsored: the Ministry will cover 50% of the certification cost, while AWS will fund the remaining 50%. This guarantees that both students and lecturers receive world-class training and globally recognised AWS certifications at no personal cost.
Tertiary institutions interested in participating are urged to nominate their coordinators and register via the official Ministry portal. The second onboarding phase is set to begin in the coming weeks, and early registration is strongly encouraged.
This strategic collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education and Amazon Web Services marks a significant step in transforming Nigeria’s education system into a more inclusive, tech-driven, and globally competitive landscape.
By investing in digital capacity building, the Federal Government is not only preparing the next generation of innovators but also creating a sustainable talent pipeline to boost Nigeria’s digital economy.
