The world is advancing faster than you think and one man at Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy is helping the country match the speed and intensity through a program call 3 million Technical Talent – 3MTT
Interestingly, Nigeria’s austerity isn’t trumping the digital potentials that need to be captured and explored as we speak. It is with this reckoning that the 3MTT has flashed its light, all thanks to the initiative and grit of the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bosun Tijani.
The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program is a key component of the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s government in Nigeria.
The intention is to fortify Nigeria’s technical talent infrastructure, fuel the digital economy and position the nation as a net exporter of talent.
The inaugural phase, conducted in collaboration with NITDA, promises a transformative journey involving a multitude of stakeholders.
The 3MTT Vision
At the core of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy’s ambitious agenda, the 3MTT program aligns with the vision of generating 2 million digital jobs by 2025.
This visionary initiative unfolds in multiple phases, with the maiden voyage adopting a fellowship model in tandem with NITDA. The objective: to train and place 30,000 technical talents, constituting the inaugural 1% stride toward the overarching 3 million target.
Skills In The Spotlight
In the radiant spotlight of the 3MTT program, twelve technical skills take center stage:
1. Software Development
2. UI/UX Design
3. Data Analysis & Visualization
4. Quality Assurance
5. Product Management
6. Data Science
7. Animation
8. AI / Machine Learning
9. Cybersecurity
10. Game Development
11. Cloud Computing
12. Dev Ops
3MTT Fellowship Model
Collaborating with NITDA, the 3MTT program pioneers a fellowship model in its first phase. This fellowship, a financial embrace, covers the training expenses for selected individuals passionate about specific skills. The overarching mission is to unleash a tidal wave of 30,000 technically adept individuals into the professional landscape.
Call for Training Providers
The quest for enlightenment extends to training providers proficient in the identified skills. The selection process, overseen by an independent review committee, scrutinizes providers based on a meticulous set of criteria.
The ministry anticipates an ever-expanding consortium of training providers, ensuring a diverse and dynamic learning landscape.
The Training Model
To ascend the summit of technical prowess, training providers must adhere to a set of illuminating requirements:
– Curriculum & Training Methods: Comprehensive curriculum and pedagogical strategies.
– Training Experience Evidence: Verifiable proof of past training in specified skills.
– Faculty & Facilities: Demonstrated expertise of faculty and adequacy of facilities.
– Apprenticeship & Internship Models: Preference for providers with practical training components.
– Cohort Engagement & Peer Learning: Incorporation of cohort-based models for enhanced learning.
– Delivery Methods:A blend of online, live, hybrid, and recorded methods, with a physical component.
– Clear Skill Development Benchmarks: Ensuring an inclusive environment for diverse backgrounds and identities.
– Completion Rate: A target completion rate of 80% or higher for accepted fellows.
The Placement Model
Ensuring talents find their rightful places, providers must adhere to a set of illuminating placement model requirements:
– Clear Placement Strategy: A defined strategy for placing trained talents.
– Evidence of Relationships and Track Record: Verifiable evidence of relationships and a track record in talent placement.
– Placement Monitoring System: A system for tracking fellows’ ongoing growth and progress post-placement.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Model
The success of the 3MTT program hinges on meticulous monitoring and evaluation.
Providers must establish and maintain operational Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems at various stages, ensuring the sustained brilliance of talent development.
Selection Criteria
Providers are evaluated based on the outlined criteria, with a continuous application process allowing providers to join the initiative during subsequent cycles.
Periodic evaluations, incorporating feedback from fellows and employers, ensure the program maintains the highest standards.
As Nigeria sets forth on this luminous journey, the 3MTT Light Bulb promises to brighten the nation’s digital landscape, one skilled talent at a time.
Written by Fortune Omosola
