A stay-at-home mother, Victoria Adefila, has shared her inspiring journey of how the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, a Nigerian government-backed scheme, reignited her passion for technology and helped her rebuild her career.
3MTT, the four-year initiative launched in 2023, spearheaded by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, seeks to train at least three million Nigerians in technical skills.
The programme offers a diverse range of courses, including software development, UI/UX design, data analysis and visualization, product management, data science, animation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, etc.
In a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Adefila, who described herself as a stay-at-home mom, recounted her struggles and triumphs, illustrating the transformative impact of the program on her life.
Adefila’s story began with her thriving beauty business, which unfortunately took a downturn during her pregnancy due to complications that limited her ability to manage her operations.
The challenges intensified after the birth of her child when she battled postpartum depression, navigating the conflicting emotions of motherhood alongside the dark cloud of her mental health struggles.
“It was a strange season—on one side, the joy of having a baby, and on the other, the darkness of depression,” she reflected.
Despite holding a degree in Computer Engineering and a long-standing passion for technology, Victoria found herself drifting away from her career aspirations.
While her university experience had introduced her to basic programming, the lack of mentorship and opportunities at the time left her feeling disconnected from the tech world.
It was only when her husband, a product manager, encouraged her to explore product design—an area that aligned with her creative skills and previous volunteer work—that she began to reconsider her future.
“I thought about the 3MTT programme at first as just another government initiative, perhaps even a poverty alleviation scheme,” Victoria admitted.
However, as she delved deeper into the programme’s objectives and success stories from its first cohort, her perspective shifted dramatically.
The 3MTT programme has generated lots of interest, with over 1.7 million individuals applying for a place in one of the 12 technical skills offered.
Applications were received from Nigeria’s 774 local governments, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for technical training across the nation.
When Cohort II began, Victoria seized the opportunity to participate, determined to reclaim her career. “From the moment it started, I knew this was my chance to rebuild,” she stated.
She immersed herself in every aspect of the program, ensuring she attended all classes and made the most of available resources. Her dedication paid off as she discovered the concept of design thinking—learning how to research, empathise, and solve real-world problems.
“These lessons weren’t just about tech for me; they were about life,” she said, noting how they instilled a renewed sense of purpose.
Within just eight weeks of the programme, Victoria created wireframes, completed assignments, and benefited from the unwavering support of her instructors at Roothub, a leading training hub affiliated with 3MTT.
“The sense of community and the intentional learning environment have been a lifeline for me,” she shared, expressing gratitude for the encouragement and collaboration she experienced during the training.
Victoria’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of the 3MTT initiative, which aims to equip individuals like her with the tools necessary to thrive in the digital landscape.
“I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be a beneficiary of the programme,” she said, thanking Minister Tijani and President Bola Tinubu for creating an enabling environment for such initiatives.
As she reflects on her experience, Victoria is excited about the future. “3MTT has truly been a gift. It’s given me the tools to reconnect with my passion for tech, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this journey and what lies ahead.”
With her newfound skills and confidence, she hopes to inspire others in her community and beyond to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles they may face.
In a nation with a huge youthful population, Victoria Adefila’s story stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating the profound impact of targeted training programmes like 3MTT in addressing unemployment and fostering a vibrant digital economy in Nigeria.
In a recent tech conference in Lagos, Tijani emphasised the ministry’s strategic approach to achieving the programme’s ambitious goals.
“We have created a unique model to drive the implementation of the plan as outlined in our 31-page policy document,” Tijani explained.
He introduced the “1-10-100 model,” starting with 1 per cent of the target population, which translates to 30,000 people in the initial phase.
“Starting this Friday, you will see applications being released for both trainers and those who want to be fellows,” Tijani announced on October 11.
He further clarified that the selection would be tailored to each state based on its population and economic activity.
According to Tijani, this phased approach simplifies reaching the overall target and addressing the talent gap within Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
“From the 1 per cent, which is the prototype, we move to the 10 per cent, which is the pilot stage. Once we get that right, scaling to a larger number will be easier. If Nigeria can train 300,000 technical talents, we can become the most competitive country on the continent when it comes to training technical talent,” he added.