Before being elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu devised an agenda titled ‘Renewed Hope”. This agenda is geared toward creating one million digital jobs in the IT sector. To see that the renewed hope agenda is actualized, the National Information Technology Development (NITDA) in partnership with Coursera provides a learning scholarship for Nigerian citizens to acquire professional certifications from US universities and top tech companies in the world.
Like I’ll always say, “Don’t be an analog in a digital world”. Clearly, we are in a digital era and must identify with most if not all the digital skills that are currently in high demand.
Continue reading to learn about the NITDA Scholarship and how to apply
What is Coursera?
Coursera is an online learning platform that offers courses, certificates, diplomas, and tutorials in a variety of areas from more than 200 leading institutions and corporations, including Penn, IBM, Google, Illinois, Stanford, Imperial College London, and Duke. Learning opportunities range from specific hands-on projects to complete, job-ready diplomas and degrees.
Coursera stresses high-quality learning by employing proof-based information online teaching and learning methods. The average rating for courses on the Coursera platform is 4.7 out of 5 stars, with 73 percent of learners reporting good professional results. This illustrates how dependable this platform is and why NITDA accepts to collaborate with them. Visit coursera.com for more information
NITDA Scholarship: How to Apply
NITDA Scholarship is a program in which NITDA and Coursera collaborate to grant learning scholarships to Nigerian residents pursuing professional certifications from top information technology companies and US universities. There are two distinct categories for you to select from, with a focus on comprehensive knowledge and technical abilities:
Category A, also known as the IT Career Pathway, provides a total of 20 professional certification programs to help you launch a successful IT career. Each program consists of a series of connected courses that provide in-depth knowledge and practical skills essential for work.
NITDA/Coursera Scholarship Details (Category A) :
- Front-End Developer,
- Back-End Developer,
- iOS Developer,
- Android Developer,
- User Experience (UX) Specialist,
- Cloud Computing Professional,
- Data Engineer,
- Data Analytics Professional,
- IT Support Specialist,
- Data Science Professional,
- Cybersecurity Professional,
- DevOps Engineer,
- Practitioner Google Project Management
- Digital Marketing & E-Commerce,
- Game Programmer,
- Social Media Marketing Specialist,
- Game Designer,
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning Practitioner System,
- Software Testing and Automation Professional.
When you finish each course in the program, you will receive a certificate of completion. However, you will obtain the professional certification once you have completed all of the program’s required courses.
Category B, or the Complementary Skills Pathway, has four certification programs from which you can pick to supplement your IT professional abilities and improve your usage of digital productivity tools, entrepreneurship, or freelancing.
NITDA Scholarship Benefits and Application Process:
Candidates who are accepted will receive:
- A Coursera license via email.
- Full Coursera license for 6 months.
- Access to many professional certifications
Just in case you were wondering, no IELTS is needed for this type of scholarship program. Again, visit the NITDA scholarship website to complete the application process. Unfortunately, the application form is currently not accepting responses because the deadline for the 2023-2024 program was on February 10, 2024.
That notwithstanding, keep refreshing the page to be the first to apply should there be another opening sooner than later.
FAQ About NITDA Scholarship
Can I apply for NITDA Scholarship if I already have a degree in IT?
Yes, the program is open to individuals of all educational backgrounds.
Are there any age restrictions?
No, but some programs may have specific age recommendations.
Are the courses self-paced?
Yes, you can study at your own pace and schedule.
What documents do I need to submit?
The only document required is your NIN. Other than that, there’s nothing more.
What are the Benefits of NITDA, and Coursera Scholarships?
As a beneficiary of the NITDA Scholarship, you get free access to Coursera specializations and professional certificates. You also get the opportunity to learn from renowned institutions like Google, IBM, and top US universities.
Do I have to pay anything to participate?
No, the scholarship will pay the entire amount of the program fees.
What categories are offered for the NITDA Tech Scholarship?
The program provides two types of programs: Category A (IT Career Pathway) includes 20 programs that focus on essential IT skills such as software development, data analysis, and cloud computing. Category B (Complementary Skills Pathway) includes four programs designed to improve soft skills such as communication, entrepreneurship, and digital tools.
Summary
In an effort to combat the high rates of unemployment, NITDA and Coursera partnered to train 8,000 Nigerian students a year. With the help of top-notch educational resources from esteemed universities like Duke, IBM, Yale, Google, Illinois, and others, the alliance seeks to empower students.
The 3MTT initiative of the Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, along with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, will be the focus of Cohort 3. Topics covered include software development, UI/UX design, data analysis and visualizations, quality assurance, product management, data science, animation, AI/machine learning, cyber security, game development, cloud computing, and DevOps.
Therefore, keep an eye out for the next application window if you’re a driven Nigerian who wants to carve out a career in the computer industry—or, perhaps more accurately if you want to become digital in a digital world.
Who knows? This scholarship could be the spark that opens up a world of limitless opportunities for you. I urge you to seize the opportunity presented by the NITDA and Coursera Scholarships and watch as Nigeria becomes increasingly digitally capable and poised to occupy its rightful position in the world of technology.
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