The NITDA/Coursera Scholarship for Nigerian Citizens is a digital-skills programme run by Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the online learning platform Coursera. Selected scholars receive 6 months of full Coursera access and can earn professional certificates issued by technology companies such as Meta, Google and IBM alongside university providers. The catalogue is split into 2 tracks: Category A, the IT Career Pathway, offers 19 professional certification programmes covering entry-level technology careers, while Category B, the Complementary Skills Pathway, offers 4 programmes covering digital productivity tools, entrepreneurship and freelancing. Applicants choose 1 programme from each category and study one certification at a time, completing the linked courses to be awarded each certificate. The scholarship is open to Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above, and there is no fixed tuition cost to the scholar because the platform access is funded by NITDA. Because the certification list, access window and number of awards are reviewed each cycle, confirm the exact current-cycle programmes, eligibility details and intake dates on the official NITDA page before you apply.
Applications are made online through the official NITDA scholarship webpage.
Scholars may enrol in only one certification programme at a time. The access period and certification list are set by NITDA and Coursera each cycle, so check current terms before applying.
Nigeria
Selection is based on meeting the citizenship, age and commitment criteria and submitting a complete application. Because awards are made to multiple scholars, the main requirement is eligibility and a genuine commitment to finishing the chosen certifications within the funded access window.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is the Nigerian government agency responsible for developing and regulating information technology in Nigeria, including national digital-skills and capacity-building programmes for citizens.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
It is run by Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with the online learning platform Coursera.
Nigerian citizens aged 18 or older who commit to completing all mandatory courses in their chosen certification programme are eligible.
Each scholar receives 6 months of funded access to the Coursera platform.
There is no tuition cost to the scholar because NITDA funds the platform access, so you pay roughly ~$0 for the certifications themselves.
You can earn professional certificates from technology partners such as Meta, Google and IBM, plus university providers, across the available programmes.
Category A (IT Career Pathway) has 19 programmes and Category B (Complementary Skills Pathway) has 4 programmes, and you choose one from each.
No. Scholars can only be enrolled in one certification programme at a time during the access period.
No prior IT qualification is required. Category A includes entry-level pathways designed to start a technology career from the basics.
Complete and submit the application form on the official NITDA webpage, choosing one Category A and one Category B programme.
Once your form is submitted, you receive access to the platform and can enrol in your chosen courses through the link provided.
The original notice did not fix a deadline. A 2026 cycle deadline of around 30 September 2026 (est.) is shown here as a guide, so confirm the exact date on the official NITDA page.
Check the official NITDA website for the current certification list, access period, number of awards and application dates before you apply.