The Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN) has identified affordable professional certifications as a critical lever for transforming Nigeria’s technology workforce, as concerns over high costs and limited access continue to exclude many skilled youths and professionals from the global digital economy.
According to the association, persistent barriers to certification across information technology, software development, automation, and emerging technology fields have weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness, prompting a renewed focus on long-term capacity building through mentorship, partnerships, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
As part of this push, ITAN is convening stakeholders across Nigeria’s digital ecosystem to examine practical ways to reduce certification costs, expand access to quality training beyond major urban centres, and develop employer-backed certification and mentorship pipelines that align skills development with industry needs.
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ITAN ‘democratising access to professional development for Nigeria’s tech workforce’
The engagement, themed “Strategic Capacity Building: Advancing Nigeria’s IT Workforce Through Affordable Certifications,” is being held via Zoom as a national webinar. ITAN is Nigeria’s representative body at the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).
Speaking on the initiative, ITAN President, Dr. Lare Ayoola, says the association is prioritising practical solutions that broaden access to professional development across the country.
“Under our current leadership, ITAN is intensifying its commitment to democratising access to professional development for Nigeria’s technology workforce,” Ayoola says. “This webinar represents a deliberate shift from conversation to action, bringing policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners into alignment around tangible solutions.”
Ayoola explains that ITAN’s strategy combines structured mentorship programmes with strategic partnerships involving regional and global ICT development initiatives, alongside collaboration with industry and government stakeholders, to deliver sustainable workforce development outcomes.
“Through our long-term mentorship programmes, strategic partnerships with regional and global ICT development initiatives, and our extensive network of industry and government stakeholders, we are creating sustainable pathways for workforce transformation,” he says.
He adds that the challenge of certification affordability carries broader implications for Nigeria’s economic future and global positioning.
“The issue of affordable certifications is not merely about reducing costs; it is about national competitiveness,” Ayoola says. “When talented youth and professionals across IT, software, automation, and emerging technologies are blocked by certification barriers, Nigeria loses ground in the global digital economy.”
According to him, today’s policy and investment choices will shape whether Nigeria emerges as a net exporter or importer of technology talent.
“The policies and investments we make today will determine whether Nigeria becomes a net exporter or importer of technology talent. This webinar is designed to catalyse the partnerships, policy frameworks, and practical models needed to ensure our next generation of technology professionals can compete anywhere in the world,” Ayoola adds.
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