The director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has restated the agency’s commitment to building the capacity of the workforces of various federal public institutions (FPIs) to create a digitally formidable federal public service toward the realisation of a digital Nigeria.
He reiterated this commitment during the closing ceremony of a capacity-building programme organised by NITDA for 100 participants from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and military and paramilitary agencies who were trained in digital literacy and skills, cybersecurity essentials and cloud computing.
Abdullahi expressed his pleasure to the participants for their active participation and contribution to class activities throughout the programme and urged them to be good ambassadors of the knowledge gained in their various organisations.
Represented by the agency’s director, information technology infrastructure solutions, Dr. Usman Abdullahi, the NITDA boss stated that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has developed initiatives to ensure that the digital transformation of the country is achieved.
Echoing the agency’s ambitious target of attaining 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, the DG said that digital literacy and skill is a key pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDPES) strategic document which was launched by the president in 2019.
“For Nigeria to attain 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, we need your collective effort in ensuring that the NDEPS serves as a guidance and guideline in all our processes at our various workplaces.”
Speaking on the NITDA’s effort in the implementation of NDEPS, Abdullahi stated that the agency developed its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021-2024 document in which, digital literacy and skill, cybersecurity and emerging technologies are part of the seven pillars which it is anchored on.
“Among the pillars are digital literacy and skill and cybersecurity. You have been trained in cybersecurity essentials. Another pillar is emerging technologies and you have been trained in cloud computing. There are 7 pillars in total and each pillar is key to our journey towards the realisation of the digital economy,” he noted.
While emphasising the agency’s commitment to implementing and complimenting the efforts of the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy through the development of SRAP, Abdullahi said that the agency is focused on building the skills and capacity of people, which is highly essential to transforming the nation digitally.
He added that NITDA has set up the Digital Transformation Technical Working Groups (DTTWG) in 200 MDAs in the country to drive the digital transformation agenda, as well as add value to their processes for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“The importance of this programme cannot be overemphasized. Now that you have been taught, the expectation is that you go back to your various organisations and implement all you have been taught,” he concluded.
On her part, the acting director, digital literacy and capacity development department, Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji appreciated Prof. Isa Pantami for starting the journey and extended her gratitude to the DG NITDA for creating the enabling environment in making the programme a success.
She congratulated all the participants and admonished them to be ambassadors of the programme by implementing all they have learnt and propagating the programme to their colleagues so that the nation can harness the benefits of digital technology.
