Thousands of Nigerians and other immigrants living in the United States now have access to a new opportunity that promises not just free training, but also guaranteed employment after completion.
Technology giant Meta, in partnership with global real estate and infrastructure firm CBRE, has launched America’s Workforce Academy (AWA), a major initiative designed to address the growing shortage of skilled workers needed to support the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data center infrastructure across the United States.
According to Meta, the program is completely free and aims to provide participants with industry-recognized skills in several high-demand trades, including fiber technology, electrical work, welding, plumbing and other technical fields linked to data center construction.
One of the biggest attractions of the initiative is its promise of employment. Graduates of the academy are expected to receive full-time job offers through contractors working on Meta’s expanding network of data centers.
The company has committed about $115 million to the project, making it one of the largest private-sector investments in job-guaranteed skilled trade training in the United States.
Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said America would require hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople to build the infrastructure needed to power the next phase of AI development.
The five-week tuition-free program is being developed alongside CBRE and the Associated Builders and Contractors. Initial training locations include Texas, Louisiana, Indiana and Ohio, though eligible applicants from across the United States can apply.
Reports indicate that the initiative was inspired by the success of Meta’s earlier LevelUp fiber technician program, which reportedly attracted tens of thousands of applications. The new academy also seeks to remove financial barriers that prevent many people from pursuing technical careers by covering training-related costs and creating pathways to paid apprenticeships.
For Nigerians and other foreign nationals legally residing in the United States, the program represents an opportunity to acquire valuable skills and secure stable employment without paying tuition fees.
Industry experts believe demand for skilled trades workers will continue to rise as major technology companies pour billions of dollars into AI infrastructure and data center expansion. Meta’s latest initiative is expected to train thousands of workers and could serve as a model for similar programs across the country.
Interested applicants can learn more about the program through Meta’s announcement page and submit applications through CBRE’s America’s Workforce Academy portal.
