By Ihotu Uriel
In a landmark move to revolutionize digital education in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education, led by Honourable Minister Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy to deliver free digital skills training for Nigerian students and educators.
This transformative initiative, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), is designed to bridge the digital divide and equip the nation’s academic community with globally relevant 21st-century skills including cloud computing, machine learning, and other emerging technologies.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Alausa stated that the programme is a critical step toward preparing Nigerian graduates and educators to thrive in a competitive digital economy. “This collaboration is not just timely it is essential. We are empowering our youth and educators with the tools they need to succeed globally,” he said.
Pilot Phase and Nationwide Rollout
The pilot phase has already onboarded coordinators from 43 federal universities and polytechnics. Building on this success, the Ministry is now expanding the programme to cover all federal, state, and private tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Heads of institutions Vice Chancellors, Provosts, and Rectors—are invited to nominate coordinators who will serve as institutional liaisons with AWS and the Ministry. These coordinators will then identify lecturers who will participate in the training and subsequently enroll their students.
Fully Sponsored Certification Programme
To ensure accessibility for all, the Federal Ministry of Education will sponsor 50% of the certification costs, with AWS covering the remaining 50%. This means that both students and lecturers will receive world-class training and internationally recognized certifications at no cost.
Registration and Onboarding
Tertiary institutions interested in participating are encouraged to register their coordinators through the official link provided by the Ministry:
🔗 https://forms.gle/RABJuj7Ct7rrpwP1A
The second phase of onboarding will commence in the coming weeks. Institutions are advised to act promptly to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that is set to redefine the digital landscape of Nigerian education.
This partnership with AWS signals a bold step towards inclusive, forward-thinking, and skills-driven education in Nigeria ensuring that every student and educator has the opportunity to excel in the digital era.
