By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

Nigeria’s push to build a globally competitive digital workforce has taken a significant leap forward with the launch of a new Nigeria-to-India technology degree pathway designed to produce job-ready AI and data professionals.

Aptech, one of Nigeria’s most established IT training institutions, has partnered with India’s Scope Global Skills University (SGSU) to introduce a 36-month Bachelor of Vocation (B.Voc.) degree in Information Technology with a specialisation in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML).

The programme, which blends local training with advanced overseas study, is specifically crafted to address the widening skills gap across Nigeria’s fast-growing tech ecosystem.

While Nigeria boasts of one of Africa’s most vibrant technology markets, with Lagos acting as a continental innovation hub, leaders continue to warn that the country’s talent production pipeline is not expanding quickly enough to meet demand.

 Fintech firms, data-driven enterprises, and emerging AI startups report difficulties finding mid-level and advanced technical professionals, especially in specialist fields like machine learning, data science, and cloud engineering.

The newly launched Aptech-SGSU pathway attempts to bridge this gap through a hybrid training model.

 The first 18 months are completed at  Aptech centres in Nigeria, where students undergo hands-on training in programming with C, Java, and Python, AI-driven web development, database management, and foundational tech competencies.

 The final 18 months will take place at SGSU’s campus in Bhopal, where students progress to advanced modules including deep learning, computer vision, cross-platform app development, and data analytics.   The programme culminates in a capstone project designed to demonstrate real-world problem-solving skills.

Education analysts say this model represents a new direction for Nigerian tech capacity-building.

workforce development specialist.

Workforce development specialist, Chinedu Okpara said “The reality is that digital transformation is accelerating faster than our traditional institutions can adapt. Cross-border academic pathways like this one offer Nigerian students global exposure while still grounding them in local industry needs.”

Aptech’s Executive Vice President for International Business, Kallol Mukherjee, said the collaboration is anchored on affordability and industry alignment. “We’re offering Nigerian students a cost-effective route to a globally recognised degree without compromising quality,” he said. “The goal is to ensure graduates are employable from day one, not just educated, but ready.”

SGSU’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vijay Singh, noted that the university is eager to welcome Nigerian students, describing the partnership as a bridge between two rapidly growing digital economies.

With an internationally recognised UGC-approved degree, graduates will qualify for postgraduate study and can pursue roles as AI/ML engineers, data analysts, full-stack developers, and machine learning specialists.

Admissions for the first cohort are now open, marking the beginning of what stakeholders describe as a timely boost to Nigeria’s digital future.