National Youth Skills Academy Trains 100,000 Graduates in Digital Professions

The National Youth Skills Academy has announced that its 2025-2026 cohort has trained and certified 100,000 young Nigerians in high-demand digital professions. The free program, which offers intensive 6-month courses in software development, data science, digital marketing, cloud computing, and user experience design, has achieved a 78% employment placement rate within six months of graduation.

The academy operates 45 physical campuses across all geopolitical zones, supplemented by a comprehensive online learning platform that allows students in remote areas to participate. Courses are developed in partnership with Google, Microsoft, Andela, and local tech employers to ensure curriculum alignment with actual job market needs.

Each student receives a laptop, unlimited internet access for the duration of training, and three meals daily. Graduates earn internationally recognized certifications and are placed into a job matching platform that connects them directly with hiring partners including banks, telecom companies, startups, and government agencies.

I was selling phone accessories at Computer Village before I joined, said Amina Yusuf, a 22-year-old data science graduate now employed at a fintech firm in Lagos. In six months, I went from zero coding knowledge to building dashboards that the CEO uses every morning. My salary is more than my entire family used to earn.

The program prioritizes applicants from underserved communities, with 35% of seats reserved for women and 25% for persons with disabilities. The government has pledged to expand capacity to 250,000 annual graduates by 2028, with a new focus on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and renewable energy technology tracks.