The federal government, through the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has concluded plans to train 5 million Nigerian workers across the public and private sectors in Artificial Intelligence over the next three years.

Meanwhile, the digital skills gap in Nigeria could cost the economy an estimated \$11 billion annually in lost growth opportunities.

President of DBI, David Daser, who disclosed this at the 21st anniversary of the institute yesterday in Abuja, said that Nigeria is poised to become a hub for AI innovation and training.

He noted that this ambitious goal is already in motion, bolstered by the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani, and Dr. Aminu Maida, adding that DBI is fully committed to making this a reality.

Daser emphasised that Nigeria must not lag behind in the AI revolution and urged state governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and local government authorities to support and partner with DBI in this critical mission.

He observed that this year’s theme, “Preparing Today’s Workforce for Tomorrow’s Market,” reflects the urgency of our mission in a rapidly evolving digital world, adding that as technologies like AI, 5G, IoT, and cybersecurity redefine the future of work, DBI remains steadfast in its commitment to future-proofing Nigeria’s workforce.

Daser stated that the government is strongly committed to bridging the digital divide and driving Nigeria towards inclusive digital transformation.

He said, “We have a strong foundation and durable infrastructure to build upon. The future is not just bright, it is solid. We assure our partners of our unwavering dedication to effective service delivery, as we continue to foster and sustain collaborative efforts toward making the world a better place for all.

“Today, we commemorate a vision that took root over two decades ago, one that continues to flourish through innovation, excellence, and transformative impact across Nigeria and Africa. The DBI was established on May 20, 2004, by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) as a Centre of Excellence for ICT and telecommunications training. Today, we stand proud with a network of campuses, global partnerships, and thousands of empowered professionals contributing meaningfully to the digital economy.”

Daser noted that on assuming office in September 2024, he inherited a resilient institution brimming with potential, adding that from then until now, DBI has recorded several landmark achievements, including a strategic partnership with Small Business Training Solutions (SBTS) Group to expand digital learning infrastructure; the launch of the DBI Global Training Partner Program at the Lagos Campus.

Others include the graduation of Sightsavers training cohorts in Kano and Lagos, the ongoing Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Poverty Reduction Training Programme across all campuses, and the commissioning of the Information Access Centre (IAC) by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

The DBI President emphasised that, like any other human organisation, the Institute has experienced its share of ups and downs over the past 21 years, stressing that in the recent past, DBI faced a challenging period during which it became a herculean task to pay staff salaries and allowances.

He added, “Our facilities and office infrastructure across campuses deteriorated, and staff morale declined significantly, leading to a sense of disorientation among workers.”

Also speaking, the Chairman, Sector Skills Council for Information and Communications Technology (SSC ICT), Mr. Shola Oshilaja, said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping our world at unprecedented speed while AI, blockchain, cloud computing, data science, IoT, and emerging technologies are transforming industries and creating new ones.

He said, “The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2027, 69% of companies globally will accelerate their adoption of AI, potentially displacing 85 million jobs while creating 97 million new ones. In Nigeria, the digital skills gap could cost our economy an estimated $11 billion annually in lost growth opportunities. The question before us is clear: How do we prepare Nigeria’s workforce not just for today’s market, but for tomorrow’s?”

Oshilaja, who was represented by Secretary of the Council, Mr. Chukwuemeka Okafor, said that in preparing for tomorrow’s market, Nigeria must make Digital Skills the New Literacy by embedding coding, digital marketing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and AI basics from secondary school.

He noted that the country must institutionalise Work-Based Learning and make internships and apprenticeships mandatory in ICT programmes, create a National ICT Skills Framework that will serve as a unified, nationally adopted ICT competency framework, underpinned by SSC ICT’s standards and aligned with global benchmarks.

Oshilaja called on Government Agencies to align policies and regulations to support skills development, provide incentives for companies that invest in training, and create an enabling environment for digital innovation.

He observed that the DBI’s strategic move to align with digital skills programmes is a masterstroke, adding that the institute is positioning Nigeria not just as a consumer of technology but as a producer of tech talent.