Learn a skill for free

• Certificate: check the site
• Non-profits and public bodies

Young Nigerians who want structured tech training with a cohort and local training partners.

What’s free: The training. Transport and meals are on you.

Watch out: You must apply and be selected for a cohort. Fake 3MTT sites have circulated, so apply only through 3mtt.nitda.gov.ng.

Go to site for 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Companies

People who want to try a field cheaply on a phone, especially non-tech ones like hospitality, care, safety or admin.

What’s free: Studying any course. Most certificates cost money.

The app works offline.

Watch out: The site shows ads unless you pay for Premium. Decide whether you need the certificate before you start.

Go to site for Alison (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

Anyone starting social media design or content work for a small business or church, using a phone or laptop.

What’s free: Self-paced courses with a free Canva account. Some are marked Pro, so check before you start.

Watch out: It teaches one tool, so build your own portfolio of real designs. The certificate alone will not get you hired.

Go to site for Canva Design School (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

Beginners curious about networking and cybersecurity who want a recognised name on a badge.

What’s free: Self-paced courses. Instructor-led classes are priced by the school running them.

Watch out: Cisco's own pages give different course hours, so treat them as a guide. Paid instructor-led versions come from local partner schools, not Cisco.

Go to site for Cisco Networking Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Companies

Anyone who wants to learn to use AI well for study or work, and developers who want to build with it.

What’s free: Courses, tutorials and use cases from Anthropic's education team.

Watch out: It mainly teaches Anthropic's own AI tool, Claude, so try other AI courses as well. Check the certificate terms on the course you choose.

Go to site for Claude Academy (Anthropic) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Companies

Students and graduates curious about finance roles (banking, analysis, accounting) who want to see what the work involves.

What’s free: One full course, Careers in Finance, plus previews of the rest and free guides.

Watch out: Only one course is fully free. The rest stop after a preview and need a paid plan.

Go to site for Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) free course (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Companies

Learners who want a university or company-branded certificate and are willing to write a financial aid application for each course.

What’s free: A preview of most courses. A full course and certificate need approved Financial Aid.

Watch out: Starting a free trial cancels a pending financial aid application, and the old free audit option has mostly gone, so read the enrolment options carefully.

Go to site for Coursera (financial aid) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Universities

Beginners who want a serious first course in computer science and coding, with or without programming experience.

What’s free: All eleven weeks of material, plus a CS50 certificate if you score at least 70% on each problem set and the final project.

Watch out: It is demanding and takes real time. Submitting your work needs an edX account, and the verified edX certificate is a separate option.

Go to site for CS50x (Harvard University) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Companies

People learning video editing, colour and sound on a computer, from complete beginners to working professionals.

What’s free: Training videos and project files on the page, plus the free version of the software.

Watch out: Downloads are very large: the first editing lesson is about 3.5 GB, so plan your data. You need a capable computer, and some videos show an older version. Check the site for exam terms.

Go to site for DaVinci Resolve training (Blackmagic Design) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Companies

People who want to learn a subject from a named university, such as supply chain, public policy or data, and only need the knowledge.

What’s free: Selected course content for a limited time. No certificate without paying.

Watch out: Free access ends on a date shown on the course page.

Go to site for edX (audit track) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Non-profits and public bodies

Beginners who need Excel for office work, study or a small business, covering formulas, charts and formatting.

What’s free: The whole series, about 5 hours 35 minutes of short lessons, with no account needed to start.

Watch out: Certificates are only on selected lessons and need a free account, so check before you count on one.

Go to site for Excel: Foundations (LearnFree) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Non-profits and public bodies

Farmers, agric students and agribusiness staff who want UN-backed training in food safety, fisheries or nutrition.

What’s free: All courses. Registration is free too.

Watch out: Courses are written for a global audience and some are technical, so pick the ones that fit your crops or your work in Nigeria.

Go to site for FAO elearning Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Non-profits and public bodies

People who want to learn web development or Python by building real projects, at no cost.

What’s free: Everything, including courses, projects and certificates.

Watch out: It is long and fully self-driven, and you need a laptop or desktop to do the projects comfortably.

Go to site for freeCodeCamp (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Companies

Small business owners who want practical AI and digital tools for selling and running their business.

What’s free: All content: webinars and one-day bootcamps on set dates.

Watch out: Live sessions run on fixed dates, so watch for the next intake. The 2026 registration page needs a Google sign-in.

Go to site for Google Hustle Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Universities

Anyone who wants to try a subject at university level, from data science and programming to health, science and the humanities.

What’s free: 118 online courses were marked free when we checked.

Watch out: Harvard shows the price as Free* and the page does not explain the asterisk, so check the course page for any cost or certificate fee before you start.

Go to site for Harvard free online courses (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

People starting in digital marketing, sales or customer service who want free, recognised certificates.

What’s free: Courses, plus marketing and sales certifications, with a free account.

Watch out: Certifications expire and must be renewed, and some courses teach HubSpot's own software more than the general skill.

Go to site for HubSpot Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

Adults looking for entry-level tech work, and students from age 13, who want AI, cybersecurity, data or cloud skills.

What’s free: All learning, plus digital credentials you can share with employers. IBM calls the programme 100% free.

Watch out: Adults, university students and high school learners each have a separate programme and account, and credentials also need a Credly account.

Go to site for IBM SkillsBuild (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Companies

School leavers and graduates preparing for their first job interview and first job.

What’s free: The soft skills courses, on the web and on WhatsApp.

Runs on WhatsApp.

Watch out: It covers soft skills only (communication, teamwork, time management), so pair it with a skill employers test for.

Go to site for Jobberman Soft Skills Training (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

Someone who has started data analysis and wants quick, practical Python and SQL practice.

What’s free: All the short courses.

Watch out: Lessons run in a browser notebook, so you need a steady connection, and a laptop helps.

Go to site for Kaggle Learn (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• No certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Non-profits and public bodies

Students and adults who need to fix maths, science or economics basics before a harder course or an exam.

What’s free: All courses and practice exercises.

You can download videos in the app. Exercises need a connection.

Watch out: There is no certificate, so it builds your foundation but gives you nothing to show an employer.

Go to site for Khan Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Non-profits and public bodies

Anyone running a project who wants the basics in under an hour, even without the job title.

What’s free: The whole course and its templates, at no cost.

Watch out: It is a quick start, not a qualification. PMI's page does not mention a certificate.

Go to site for KICKOFF (Project Management Institute) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Companies

Small business owners and social media managers who run ads on Facebook and Instagram.

What’s free: Training, exam prep and practice tests. The certification exam costs money.

Watch out: The exam costs US$99 to US$150, and each retake is paid in full.

Go to site for Meta Blueprint (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Companies

People heading for IT support, cloud, data or security roles in companies that run Microsoft tools.

What’s free: All training modules. Full certification exams cost money.

Watch out: Free exam vouchers only come through time-limited promotions.

Go to site for Microsoft Learn (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Non-profits and public bodies

Nigerian youth who want digital, business, creative or leadership skills, with no age limit and no academic qualifications needed.

What’s free: More than 58 self-paced courses and a government certificate of completion, with no payment at any stage.

Watch out: You register with your name, email and phone number, then verify your email. A certificate shows you finished, so pair it with real practice.

Go to site for Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Universities

Anyone who wants to try a university subject (law, health, business, environment) before committing to a degree or a paid course.

What’s free: All courses, with a free badge or statement of participation on most.

Watch out: Badges show you finished a course, not that you are qualified, so pair them with practical work.

Go to site for OpenLearn (The Open University) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• No certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Non-profits and public bodies

Health workers and health students who want WHO's own material on outbreaks and emergencies without signing up.

What’s free: All videos, slides and handouts, with no sign-up.

Comes in low-bandwidth formats.

Watch out: There is no certificate any more, so use WHO Academy if you need proof of completion.

Go to site for OpenWHO (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Companies

Site workers, supervisors and warehouse staff who want to learn safety basics for free.

What’s free: All training material. Certificates and record cards cost money.

Each course has a free PDF study guide.

Watch out: It teaches US OSHA rules, which are not Nigerian law.

Go to site for OSHAcademy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Companies

Beginners, students and team leads who want a short introduction to planning, scope, budgets and risk.

What’s free: The 2-hour video course and a completion certificate, with no payment details needed.

Watch out: It is only an introduction, and access lasts 90 days, so finish it early.

Go to site for Project Management 101 (Simplilearn SkillUp) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Non-profits and public bodies

People in NGOs, charities and development work who want to learn how to plan and run projects.

What’s free: The courses, exam and certificate, with a free account. It takes about 5 hours.

The mobile app lets you download courses and finish them offline.

Watch out: It is written for humanitarian and development staff, so the examples lean that way. After signing up, search for Project Management Essentials to find it.

Go to site for Project Management Essentials (DisasterReady) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Companies

Electricians, technicians and engineering students who want to understand energy efficiency, power systems or data centres.

What’s free: Over 300 e-learning courses. The industry certifications they prepare you for are paid.

Watch out: It teaches concepts, not hands-on wiring, so it adds to a trade qualification and does not replace one.

Go to site for Schneider Electric University (formerly Energy University) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Companies

Anyone with a phone who wants to start AI, data, marketing or cloud basics without spending on data or fees.

What’s free: Whole courses. Google says the platform is entirely free.

Google says you can download lessons on Wi-Fi and finish offline.

Watch out: It launched on 2 Nov 2026, so check the course you want is there. Neither Google page says whether a full Google Career Certificate is included.

Go to site for Skilling Africa with Google (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Certificate: check the site
• Non-profits and public bodies

Founders and would-be founders who want business training plus a route to TEF's seed funding programme.

What’s free: The platform and its business training.

Watch out: The 12-week training and seed capital are tied to the yearly application window, which closed on 1 March 2026.

Go to site for TEFConnect (Tony Elumelu Foundation) (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• No certificate
• Companies

New content creators on TikTok who want official help with posting, engagement, tools and earning.

What’s free: Video courses and articles. The pages open without an account.

Watch out: It only covers TikTok, and no certificate is mentioned. Earning programmes have their own rules, so check whether they apply in Nigeria before you count on them.

Go to site for TikTok Creator Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Paid certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Non-profits and public bodies

People heading for NGO, government, environment or development work who need to understand climate policy.

What’s free: All courses and content. Most certificates cost US$10 to US$30.

Each module comes as a PDF or PowerPoint.

Watch out: Only some certificates are free, so check the course page first.

Go to site for UN CC:Learn (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• Free certificate
• Works offline / low data
• Non-profits and public bodies

Nurses, CHEWs, pharmacists and health students who want a short WHO certificate for their CV.

What’s free: Online courses, open to anyone who registers.

WHO says you can use course content offline.

Watch out: Many new courses are only in English, and it is a professional platform, so some courses assume health training.

Go to site for WHO Academy (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026

• No certificate
• Companies

New content creators starting a YouTube channel who want official guidance on making videos, growing an audience and earning.

What’s free: YouTube's own guides, lessons and videos for creators.

Watch out: It teaches YouTube rather than video editing, and there is no certificate, so your channel is what you show people.

Go to site for YouTube Creators (opens in a new tab) →Checked on 3 Nov 2026