3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT) and you- What we know.

Nigeria is currently plagued with a serious unemployment problem but this article is not about Nigeria- its about you.

If you are unemployed in Nigeria and face the same challenges millions face, learning lucrative skills is a step in the right direction. I am particular about learning skills because skills can help you earn money which you can invest in a business. Alternatively, with the right skills you just might land that dream job.

Learning skills is easier said than done. One main obstacle to this step is that quality training costs money. Unfortunately the people who need the training the most can’t pay for it. That is where 3mtt comes in.

In this article I would explore facts about the 3mtt programme including how to apply and benefit from the opportunity the programme affords. If this is something you would love to know more about then do well to read through this article.

What is 3mtt all about?

In a bid to create millions of digital jobs, the federal government launched the 3 million technical talent programme to train young people and encourage talent export. 

The government hopes that this drive would reduce unemployment which makes sense if you consider India’s successful implementation of a similar model of talent export which led to the billions in dollars in remittances.

The 3mtt currently focuses on certain skill areas which are mostly ICT areas. I will list out these areas below.

• Software Development
• UI/UX Design
• Data Analysis & Visualisation
• Quality Assurance
• Product Management
• Data Science
• Animation
• AI / Machine Learning
• Cybersecurity
• Game Development
• Cloud Computing
• Dev Ops

These areas may not include manual skills that are common in Nigeria but they have the capacity to create the kind of jobs young Nigerians need at this time. They represent some of the top in-demand skills to learn in 2024.

However, future phases of the programme would likely feature training in other skill areas.

How it works

So, how does this programme work? Currently, the government partners with training providers to train those who participate in the programme.

The government would cover the cost of the training for those who are shortlisted as participants of the programme. The selected fellows would be responsible for other costs of their training like transportation and meals.

Eligibility and requirements

In order to participate in this programme, you must be a Nigerian and successfully complete an application to become a fellow of the programme. 

How to apply for 3mtt

To start your application visit https://fellow.3mtt.training/ and take the following steps.

• Fill your biodata, and contact information.
• You would also be asked about your employment status. Supply the information.
• Select the training programme you would like to participate in.
• You would be asked to verify your email address and complete other registration steps.  These instructions would be sent to you in an email.

If you are not selected for the next batch of training you would be placed on queue for future phases. 

While on queue, you would be a part of the 3MTT learning community. This would give you access to courses, resources and community benefits to enhance your personal learning.

You would be able to see your application status on your dashboard.

Mode of delivery

The training requires a blend of both online and in-person classes. Even though most of the current programmes can be fully delivered remotely, some aspects require that you are physically present.

This is a positive because physical classes would allow you to interact with instructors and gain hands-on training which can be very useful for your learning process.

How to access your 3MTT dashboard

To access your 3MTT dashboard visit https://3mtt.nitda.gov.ng/ and click the login button. 

Input your login details and you would gain access to your dashboard

How long is the training for 3MTT?

The training usually lasts for 3 months on average but the exact amount of time you would spend depends on the particular training you have selected.

How to check 3MTT shortlisted candidates

You can check the 3MTT shortlisted candidates on your dashboard. If you have been successfully registered, you can easily find a link to a list of shortlisted candidates on your dashboard.

You can also check the list by searching here

If you want to check if you have been selected, all you have to do is perform a search using your name.

Benefits of the 3MTT Programme

The 3MTT was only launched recently and is still in its first phase. What that means is that there are not many people that have benefitted from the programme. So, it may be too early for now (in May 2023) to analyse the benefits.

However, one clear benefit is that you get some high quality training for free. This should be enough to encourage you to sign up for this programme. It is also easy to get a good job with any of these skills if you go through the programme and master the skills successfully.

Another benefit is that it does the job of matching learners with qualified training providers. This would save you the stress of having to comb your city in search of good training programmes that can give you desired learning outcomes

Cons of the 3MTT Programme

One of the major cons of the 3MTT programme is that you would have to fund other aspects of the training yourself. 

Other challenges you might face include;

• There may be no training available in the area where you have interest.
• You need some level of computer savvy to participate in the programmes listed above.
• The training also requires that you have a digital device of your own- A laptop to be precise for personal practice.

Conclusion

If you are unemployed or underemployed and you need a better way to earn, learning these digital skills can prove to be instrumental in improving your income. 

The 3MTT is an affordable way to do it. My advice is that you seize the opportunity to learn new skills and increase your income.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comment section.