Are We Trying to Boil the Ocean?

Achieving the "Impossible" with 3MTT

During the Trade Roundtable Session at Moonshot by TechCabal, I learned a phrase that has quickly become a staple in my vocabulary: "boiling the ocean." The phrase implies an impossible task—something so vast that it seems unattainable. But stay with me, because when we break it down, even the seemingly impossible can be tackled.

The ocean, with all its depth and vastness, represents a sea of opportunities, much like the digital landscape we aim to harness at the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy with 3MTT. Achieving our goal—training 3 million tech talents—might seem like trying to "boil the ocean." However, we believe the key to success lies in a structured, iterative approach.

This is where our 1%-10%-100% Implementation Rule comes in. Rather than diving headfirst into a massive, overwhelming task, we take deliberate, phased steps. Our journey to training 3 million starts with 1%—the prototype phase, training 30,000 fellows. From there, we scale to 10%—the pilot phase, reaching 300,000, before ultimately moving to the 100% scale-up phase, where we’ll train 3 million Nigerians.

As the Honourable Minister said during the session:

“The real workforce of the future is in Africa. Our challenge is ensuring that our young people are equipped for what the world needs.”

This sentiment underpins the design of the 3MTT programme. We know that achieving this will take time and effort, and we won’t see immediate success and adoption. However, by starting small, learning, and scaling, we are steadily progressing towards this audacious goal.

The phrase "boiling the ocean" captures the magnitude of our vision, but by breaking it down into manageable phases, we are showing that it can be done—one percent, one phase, one fellow at a time.

Breaking Down the Impossible: The 1%-10%-100% Approach

The 3MTT programme is structured to scale in phases using what we call the 1%-10%-100% Implementation Approach. This method ensures that we grow in a sustainable, data-driven way, learning from each phase before expanding to the next. Here’s how it works:

1. 1% (Prototype Phase):
   This initial phase represents our first step into the unknown. We started small, targeting 1% of the total goal, which in our case equates to training the first cohort of 30,000 fellows. During this phase, we focused on data collection, product testing, curriculum experimentation, and refinement. This is where we identify what works, where we need improvements, and how the programme interacts with local communities and stakeholders. It's a learning phase that provides valuable data to inform the next steps. We might encounter obstacles, but those roadblocks become lessons that help us refine our approach for the next phase.

2. 10% (Piloting the Prototype):
   Once the prototype had been validated, we expanded to 10%, our pilot phase which means training 300,000 fellows (Broken down into Cohort 2,3 and 4). This phase is about broadening the impact while still ensuring that we’re staying adaptable and responsive. We have enough data from the prototype to know what to adjust, but we’re still refining the systems, improving the curriculum, and solidifying partnerships. By scaling cautiously to 10%, we’re also able to gauge demand, refine job placement strategies, and ensure that our infrastructure—digital, physical, and organizational—can handle larger numbers.

3. 100% (Full Scale-up):
   The final phase is the full deployment, where we scale to 100%—our ultimate goal of training 3 million fellows. This is where everything we’ve learned from the previous phases culminates. We know by now what works best and have optimized our operations and strategies. We’ve built the partnerships, engaged the stakeholders, and most importantly, empowered individuals at scale. This is the phase where we realize the full potential of the programme and bring transformative change to Nigeria’s workforce.

---

The Power of Staggered Growth

The beauty of this 1%-10%-100% approach is in its staggered, thoughtful growth. We’re not biting off more than we can chew at once—we’re building towards something big, but doing it strategically. It’s a pragmatic response to a massive ambition. Each phase feeds into the next, ensuring that by the time we hit the full scale, we’ve optimized every aspect of the programme for maximum impact.

From an outsider's perspective, training 3 million tech talents may seem like trying to boil the ocean—an impossible task. But by approaching it incrementally, we show that even the most daunting challenges can be tackled. It’s not about boiling the ocean all at once; it’s about heating it up a little at a time, one degree, one fellow, one phase, until the vision becomes a reality.

This approach also allows us to bring communities, the ecosystem, and stakeholders along with us at every stage. They see the benefits early on in the 1% and 10% phases and can scale their involvement as we grow, creating a collective momentum that powers the entire digital economy.

---

Community Corner

---

Events

Moonshot by TechCabal

3MTT at Moonshot by TechCabal

Last week, I had the privilege of representing 3MTT at the NITDA booth during the recently concluded Moonshot by TechCabal conference. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with attendees, share insights about 3MTT, and meet with founders and organizations interested in hiring interns from our program.

The booth was buzzing with activity immediately after the Honourable Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani's morning session, where he spoke passionately about 3MTT. Many visitors expressed how inspiring his remarks were and showed a keen interest in learning more about the program. Attendees also inquired about the ministry's Strategic Blueprint following his session. I was glad to answer questions about the 3MTT training structure, internship opportunities, micro jobs, and how we prepare fellows for real-world challenges. There was significant curiosity about how 3MTT prepares participants for real-world challenges and tech roles.

In addition to these insightful discussions, I made new connections and reconnected with old friends and bosses, which made the event even more special. Several organizations expressed a strong interest in hiring interns, reflecting the growing recognition of 3MTT's impact in the Nigerian tech ecosystem.

Overall, the HM's passion for 3MTT resonated with many attendees, and I'm excited to continue advancing the program's goals through future engagements and partnerships.

Oluwaseyi Ayodele, Lagos Community Manager 

Visit to NCC Digital Innovation Park, Kano

The Honourable Minister visited the NCC Digital Innovation Park earlier this week, vital to facilitating the 3MTT Programme, to assess the damages caused by the recent protests. During his address, the Honourable Minister announced the support of IHS Towers to undertake the complete refurbishment of the Digital Innovation Park. According to him, the facility stands as a critical hub for innovation, and is a symbol of Kano’s and Nigeria’s ambition to be leaders in the global digital economy.

Read More

3MTT On the Radio

3MTT Akwa Ibom now has a weekly show on the radio which will be launching at the end of October! Shout out to Victoria Nwanna-Ndu, Akwa Ibom Community Manager for making this happen. We can’t wait to hear all the wonderful things the Akwa Ibom community is up to.

---

Get Inspired

1. Watch: Is the world ready for humanoid robots? Tesla thinks so with their commercial launch of Optimus, the Tesla bot made to assist humans. I am both scared but also curious to see how these robots would interact when they finally find their way to Nigeria. watch here.

2. Read: Are college degrees becoming obsolete? Harvard Business School Professor Boris Groysberg believes companies should look for skills instead of degrees, especially now that millions of roles are left unfilled. More here