The Nigerian Government has opened applications for organisations and individual experts to join the Delivery Network of its 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, with approximately N4 billion earmarked to support verified outcomes under Cohorts 5 and 6.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy announced the development in a statement describing the initiative as part of efforts to expand Nigeria’s digital workforce and connect technical skills training to real employment and business opportunities.
Under the new arrangement, applicants will undergo a membership review and may be admitted as either Enabled Delivery Partners or Funded Delivery Partners, depending on their eligibility and selection.
Cohort 5 funding is being supported by the European Union and Denmark through the GIZ Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria, HAUS and ESTDEV, alongside a grant from the MacArthur Foundation through Blue Sapphire Hub.
Speaking on the initiative, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said “the new approach would strengthen the relationship between technical skills development, employment and economic opportunities”.
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Reaching three million technical talents requires a delivery ecosystem that is responsive to industry demand, accessible across communities and built to scale. Cohort 5 marks an important step in that journey.
“By giving our support to verified demand and real results, we are strengthening the connection between skills, jobs and economic opportunity, while building the talent pipeline Nigeria needs to compete in the global digital economy.” he said
The Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Massimo De Luca, also reaffirmed the EU’s support for the programme.
He said “the partnership was aimed at transforming Nigeria’s youthful population into an economic asset by connecting skilled young people directly to employment opportunities through a system that prioritises measurable results”.
Nigeria’s young people are among its greatest assets, and the European Union is proud to stand with the Federal Government to turn that talent into jobs.
With the 3MTT Delivery Network, Nigeria is building national infrastructure that funds results, not just training, and connects skilled young people directly to work —ambitious, results-driven, and built to grow.
Through the Global Gateway, the EU is building ambitious partnerships designed to grow — and this is just the beginning.
Since 2023, more than 1.8 million Nigerians have registered on the 3MTT platform, and 179,000 Fellows have been trained across four cohorts and the DeepTech programme.
Counting its wider community resources and opportunities, more than 300,000 Nigerians have benefited. The programme has been implemented with more than 200 partner organisations across all 36 states and the FCT.
The Ministry has called on employers, technology companies, funders, state governments and research institutions to participate in the broader 3MTT Partner Network.
The deadline for Cohort 5 funding applications is 11:59 p.m. West Africa Time on Monday, November 30, 2026, while general membership applications will remain open, with reviews conducted quarterly.
