NBTI Partners with CIRPS to Equip Nigerians with Emerging Technology Skills.

Abuja, Nigeria — 16 June 2025.

In a landmark move to advance digital literacy and workforce readiness in Nigeria, the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has partnered with CIRPS (Inter-University Research Centre for Sustainable Development), Italy, to deliver tuition-free diploma courses in emerging technologies to Nigerians.

The initiative—anchored in the European Commission’s digital transformation framework—was formalized during a high-level meeting between CIRPS and the International Bio Research Institute (IBRI), Enugu, as confirmed by Professor Edmund Ugwu Agbo. He emphasized IBRI’s commitment to collaborating with NBTI to make the program accessible nationwide. Participation requires only a nominal fee for the admission form.

Launched in Europe post-COVID-19 to address the digital skills gap, these in-demand courses have now been extended to Africa. CIRPS, a consortium of European universities dedicated to sustainable development, aims to train one million Nigerians in cutting-edge digital competencies through its partnership with IBRI and NBTI.
The six-month diploma programs, available at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels, culminate in internationally recognized professional certifications. The courses are designed to prepare participants for remote or on-site employment and entrepreneurship in today’s digital economy.

The ten focus areas include:
    •    Cybersecurity
    •    Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
    •    Cloud Computing
    •    Virtual, Augmented & Mixed Reality
    •    CGI Animation
    •    3D Animation
    •    2D Animation
    •    Business Intelligence Analysis
    •    Agile Scrum Product Management
    •    Product Design (Agile & Kanban Environments)
Dr. Kazeem Kolawole Raji, Director General/CEO of NBTI, expressed strong institutional support for the partnership, noting its alignment with NBTI’s strategic pivot toward emerging technologies. He cited recent initiatives such as the *Nextgen Innovation Challenge, which not only targets innovative Nigerian talents but also focuses on upskilling NBTI personnel.

Highlighting NBTI’s expansive presence—comprising offices in all 36 states, 15 extensions, and six regional centers—Dr. Raji reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing infrastructure, mentorship, and post-training support to ensure the program’s long-term impact.

This transformative collaboration between NBTI and CIRPS marks a bold step toward empowering the next generation of digitally skilled Nigerians, ready to compete and thrive on the global stage.

Olajumoke David
Chief Information & Public Relations Officer
National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Abuja