The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has forged a strategic alliance with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to equip 30 million Nigerians with digital skills. This announcement came after a meeting between NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, and the NYSC Director-General, Brig Gen Y.D. Ahmed, held in Abuja on Friday.
According to Inuwa, this partnership aligns perfectly with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which aims to foster digital literacy and nurture talent through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative. The collaboration was facilitated by the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who expressed strong support for its success.
NITDA stated that the training program is designed to empower more Nigerians to participate in the digital economy and enhance their employability. The partnership seeks to train 30 million Nigerians, particularly the youth, in digital skills, enabling them to access essential digital services, engage in the digital economy, compete for jobs, and boost their employability prospects.
“This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reform the economy and deliver sustained inclusive growth by leveraging digital literacy and cultivating a pool of tech talent,” NITDA stated. However, the statement did not disclose the commencement date of the training or the mode of participation for Nigerians.
Nonetheless, NITDA revealed that the NYSC Director-General pledged to establish a Community Development Service (CDS) to support this initiative.
The Federal Government’s digital literacy agenda has gained significant momentum recently. The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, declared that all training programs of the administration aim to ensure that 90% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2030.
Tijani highlighted that one of the initiatives is the ongoing 3 Million Technical Skills (3MTT) program, through which the government plans to train 3 million Nigerians in digital skills over the next three years. He clarified that being digitally literate does not necessarily mean that 90% of Nigerians will become tech talents, but they would be provided with the foundation to choose to participate in the digital economy.
In line with this agenda, NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) places digital literacy as the top priority among its eight pillars. The NITDA Director-General noted that the target of fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent will be achieved through the implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework.
This collaborative effort between NITDA and NYSC represents a significant step towards equipping Nigerians with the necessary digital skills to thrive in the modern economy and unlock new opportunities for growth and development.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.