Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its economic future with the launch of a free nationwide financial and digital skills training programme designed to reach 10 million citizens.
The initiative, officially launched on February 2, 2026, signals the Federal Government’s push to expand financial inclusion, formalise small businesses, and equip Nigerians with skills suited to a digital-first economy. The programme is positioned as a core pillar of the administration’s broader economic reform agenda, which aims to narrow inequality and place the country on a long-term growth path anchored on productivity and inclusion.
Although the training is open to Nigerians across age groups and professions, special emphasis has been placed on women and young people. Government officials described these groups as critical to unlocking Nigeria’s demographic advantage, stressing that economic growth will remain fragile if large sections of the population lack access to modern financial knowledge and digital tools.
Unlike earlier inclusion efforts that focused mainly on opening bank accounts, this programme goes further by prioritising financial competence. Participants are expected to learn not just how to access digital financial services, but how to use them effectively to save, invest, manage risk, and build sustainable wealth. The goal is to strengthen trust in the financial system while improving individual and business decision-making.
To raise the quality and credibility of the training, the government has entered into a formal partnership with six professional institutions spanning accounting, banking, stockbroking, credit administration, risk management, innovation, and entrepreneurship. These bodies are responsible for shaping the curriculum and ensuring it meets professional and ethical standards that can translate into real economic impact.
Oversight of the programme rests with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, which operates from the Office of the Vice President. By placing coordination at this level, the government is signalling that the initiative is not a peripheral intervention but a national priority tied directly to economic planning and reform.
Digital skills form a central part of the curriculum, reflecting the reality that financial literacy today cannot be separated from digital literacy. Participants will be trained on the use of fintech platforms, online payment systems and basic data security practices, all of which are increasingly essential for individuals and small businesses operating in a cashless and technology-driven environment.
For micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, the programme offers a pathway out of informality. MSMEs will receive guidance on basic accounting practices, business registration processes, and structured growth planning, areas that often limit their ability to access finance and scale operations. By encouraging formalisation, the government hopes to broaden the tax base while improving the survival and growth prospects of small businesses.
Access to credit is another major focus. Rather than emphasising traditional collateral, the training introduces participants to modern credit administration systems that rely on financial records, transaction history and credit behaviour. This approach is expected to ease borrowing constraints for small businesses and entrepreneurs who struggle to meet conventional lending requirements.
The digital delivery of the programme is being handled by a technology platform provided by WAWU Africa, which enables nationwide access to training materials, assessments, and mentorship regardless of location. This infrastructure is critical to achieving the programme’s ambitious scale.
The initiative also serves as a practical implementation of the Aso Accord on Economic and Financial Inclusion, translating policy commitments into capacity-building at the grassroots level. Officials described it as an investment in “human infrastructure”, aimed at strengthening ethical standards, professionalism, and long-term economic resilience.
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Beyond savings and borrowing, participants will be exposed to investment principles and risk management strategies. The training is expected to help Nigerians better identify legitimate investment opportunities while developing the skills needed to avoid fraud and manage digital financial risks.
If effectively implemented, the programme could mark a turning point for financial inclusion in Nigeria, particularly for MSMEs and young entrepreneurs whose growth potential has long been constrained by limited access to skills, credit, and formal financial systems.
