The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE), through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, today opened applications for organisations and individual experts to join the 3MTT Delivery Network, with about ₦4 billion currently earmarked to support verified outcomes in Cohort 5 and 6.

The 3MTT Delivery Network brings together organisations and individual experts that train Nigerians in digital and technical skills. Working with 3MTT, they help more Nigerians gain the skills employers need and move into jobs, freelance work or their own businesses.

Cohort 5 is funded 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. This support advances a demand-led, results-based model that connects technical skills development to evidenced opportunities and ties financing to verified results.

Building on lessons from previous cohorts, Cohort 5 moves 3MTT from simply expanding training numbers to deliberately connecting training to real, evidenced demand. At the heart of this shift is a results-based financing model: financing follows verified results and the pathway from skills to jobs is strengthened at every step.

Every application to the delivery network goes through a membership review. Accepted members join as Enabled Delivery Partners or, if selected for Cohort 5 funding, as Funded Delivery Partners. Together, the tracks expand training capacity, respond more directly to industry talent needs, and create more inclusive pathways for organisations to contribute to Nigeria’s digital workforce agenda.

“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 tying 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,” said Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy.

As Funded Delivery Partners, organisations with verified, evidenced demand, whether roles within their own organisations or placements with their clients, can train fellows specifically for those opportunities. Selected partners submit their talent requirements, take part in selecting the Fellows matched to those roles, and are financed against the verified results. This connects training directly to market demand and improves the pathway from skills acquisition to real economic opportunity.

Enabled Delivery Partners are the base of the network: organisations and individual experts who train people, with or without a physical space. Enabled Delivery Partners help build shared national standards and credentials, and get access to the 3MTT Talent Operating System, the National Talent Registry, insights on the roles and skills employers need, access to device financing and resources from partners, subject to eligibility.

“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,” said Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS.

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 invites employers, funders, technology companies, state governments and research organisations to join the wider 3MTT Partner Network, as 3MTT works towards achieving its three million target.

Applications are open to organisations and individual experts, in Nigeria and abroad, at delivery.3mtt.gov.ng. Funding applications for Cohort 5 can be made alone or as a consortium. They must be led by an organisation registered and operating in Nigeria, and close at 23:59 WAT on Monday 30 November 2026. Membership of the network stays open, and applications to join are reviewed every quarter.