FG announces N1b partnership with IHS to establish 3MTT Learning Community

The Federal Government (FG) on Monday announced a N1 billion partnership between the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMoCDE) and IHS Towers to establish the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Learning Community.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, while announcing the partnership in a statement, said this initiative is in support of the recently launched 3MTT programme.

The Federal Government launched the 3MTT programme earlier in October as part of its plans to develop a total of 3 million technical talents in Nigeria by the year 2025.

“I am excited to announce a N1 Billion partnership between the @FMoCDENigeria and @IHSTowers to establish the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Learning Community,” Tijani wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“This initiative, which is in support of our recently launched 3MTT programme, will facilitate the set-up of learning communities in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The N1 billion funding from IHS Towers also includes a commitment to paying the salaries of 37 dedicated learning community managers for each location for the next 3 years.”

He added that this is the first in a number of partnerships that the Ministry of Communications will be securing in support of its targets, specifically for the 3MTT programme and broadly for the knowledge pillar in its Strategic Blueprint.

Tijani was asked by an X user, olalekan Arowosaye if some states will need more than a centre, like Oyo State, which is huge.

Arowosaye said he felt if only one centre is in Ibadan, it will be a disadvantage to other regions in the state.

The Minister corrected the X user by saying it is actually “Learning Community Managers” and not centres.

According to Tijani, most states in Nigeria will also have multiple learning communities (self organising).

The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, a critical part of the Renewed Hope agenda, is aimed at building Nigeria’s technical talent backbone to power the country’s digital economy and to position it as a net talent exporter.

The first phase of the programme, executed in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), will involve multiple stakeholders, including fellows, training providers, partners and placement organisations.