In a decisive move to bolster Nigeria’s tech talent pipeline, the global IT professional body ISACA has entered into a transformative partnership with INGRYD Academy. The initiative aims to upskill 10,000 aspiring tech professionals across the country over the next five years – a bold step that underscores Nigeria’s growing prominence in the global tech space.
The joint effort is anchored on the urgent need for robust digital skills, particularly in cybersecurity, IT audit, and emerging technologies. With the digital economy poised to contribute a staggering USD 180 billion by 2025 across Africa, the timing couldn’t be better.
Chris Dimitriadis, ISACA’s Chief Global Strategy Officer, emphasises the wider benefits: “Empowering the next generation as they embark on their tech journey not only strengthens the global IT and cybersecurity workforce but also fosters societal progress through safer digital adoption.”
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How the Programme Works: Structured, Inclusive, Impactful
Under the five-year blueprint, 2,000 INGRYD Academy learners each year will receive targeted ISACA Fundamentals courses. Beyond training, participants gain one-year memberships in ISACA’s global student network, plus access to peer-to-peer mentorship, workshops, conferences, and other events—all essential for holistic professional growth.
INGRYD Academy CEO HRM Khadijat Abdulkadir underscores the programme’s long-term vision: “We’re enabling 40,000 learners to achieve global-recognised training—not simply creating tech talent, but nurturing a generation of problem-solvers and digital leaders. That has far-reaching impact.”
Such a model is deliberately aligned with Nigeria’s national workforce development goals: bridging the digital skills gap at scale while ensuring participants are networked within a global professional ecosystem.
Nationwide Prospects: Beyond Statistics to Societal Advancement
Nigeria’s tech ascendancy is well-documented: over 100 million internet users and a fast-expanding tech sector make the nation ideal for such upskilling efforts. But despite this potential, there remains a pronounced shortage of cybersecurity and related expertise—a gap this collaboration aims to plug.
Gustavo Frega, Senior Academic Strategy and Business Partnerships Manager at ISACA, calls the collaboration a “powerful driver of opportunity and change,” enabling Nigerian students to earn globally recognised credentials and connect with ISACA’s influential community.
Beyond training, this initiative is poised to stimulate economic growth, talent export, and digital resilience. And given Nigeria’s youth demographics, such empowerment programmes have ripple effects across entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation.
Why This Matters: Nigeria’s Tech Ecosystem and Beyond
The rationale behind this project speaks to broader realities in Nigeria’s tech landscape:
- Immense Demand, Limited Supply
Nigeria faces significant tech skills shortages. Reports estimate a deficit of over 720,000 tech professionals, including large shortfalls in software development, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud engineering. - Multipronged Government Initiatives
The 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, launched in October 2023, targets training 3 million Nigerians in key digital skills by 2027, with early phases already underway. - State-Level Innovation Efforts
In Abeokuta, Cybervilla and Ogun State have launched a plan to train 10,000 youths in digital and entrepreneurial skills by 2027—complementing federal efforts. Similarly, Quanta Africa’s TalentDev initiative seeks to train and employ the same number over five years. - Institutional Support and Mentorship
To bridge the academic-industry divide, mentorship programmes are critical. TechTrends Nigeria reports that mentored professionals progress 40% faster in their careers—evidence of what structured support can achieve.
Together, these efforts illustrate a multi-layered, ecosystem-based approach to tech talent development—from academia and the private sector to NGOs and government.
Looking Forward: What Success Could Mean for Nigeria
Should this ISACA-INGRYD project succeed, its impact could be transformative:
- Expanded talent pipeline: Each year, 2,000 Nigerians graduate with globally recognised credentials—and over five years, that’s 10,000 new professionals.
- Networked workforce: Graduates engage with global IT communities, gaining access to mentorship, industry events, and collaboration platforms.
- Economic multiplier effects: These professionals can drive digital transformation across sectors—from banking to oil and gas, health tech to agriculture.
- Foundations for further growth: Success here strengthens the case for similar, scaled initiatives—government-backed or private.
In essence, training 10,000 tech professionals in Nigeria is not just about numbers. It’s about building capacity, connectivity, and the confidence to innovate and lead in a digital world.
Conclusion
Nigeria stands at the cusp of digital metamorphosis. Through smart partnerships like ISACA and INGRYD Academy, the nation can turn its aspiration for tech leadership into a reality grounded in skill, inclusivity, and global connectedness. The training of 10,000 tech professionals isn’t an endpoint—it’s a launchpad for a brighter, digitally resilient Nigeria.
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