Microsoft is planning to equip five million people in Nigeria with digital skills over the next three years.

This is expected to be done in a partnership with the Nigerian Government towards a sustainable digital economy.

In an announcement made on the company’s news page on Monday, the tech giant plans to build on three key pillars, which include connectivity, skilling and digital transformation.

Microsoft President, Brad Smith said, “We believe in the future of Nigeria, and we are excited as a company to add to our investments.

“Together, we have an enormous opportunity to put technology to work, create jobs, to foster the technology ecosystem across Nigeria, and to use technology to preserve the best of the past and take us into the future.”

The partnership is expected to create over 27,000 new digital jobs in the next three years.

“We are setting ourselves a big goal, to bring access to digital skills to five million people in Nigeria over the next three years.

“But this is not something we can do by ourselves. We will equip master trainers and, along with them, are committed to creating thousands of new jobs,” Smith added.

Microsoft will also partner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to curb corruption using advanced technologies, and the National Institute of Cultural Orientation to protect Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.