The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with GIZ/DTC, has orchestrated a stakeholder awareness event on the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) in Lagos, in a bid to narrow the digital gap and empower Nigerians with indispensable digital skills.
The director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi underscored the pivotal role of digital literacy skills in today’s swiftly evolving digital terrain. He highlighted the NDLF as a comprehensive roadmap, jointly developed by NITDA and key stakeholders, to equip Nigerians with the necessary digital competencies to excel in the digital era.
Abdullahi, represented by Dr. Falilat Jimoh from the agency’s southwest zonal office (SWZO), accentuated the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Education to integrate the framework’s provisions into the national school curriculum. “This initiative aims to equip students from a young age with foundational digital skills essential for future success,” he asserted.
Furthermore, he elucidated NITDA’s partnership with GIZ/DTC, aimed at establishing robust standards for digital literacy content, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and relevant learning materials aligned with the NDLF’s objectives.
Abdullahi emphasised that NITDA’s dedication to digital inclusion extends beyond formal education, with ongoing digital literacy programmes targeting women, artisans and other underserved segments of society.
He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts, stating that the framework facilitates the implementation of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, 2024–2027 pillars, “Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talents”.
“The SRAP 2.0 is a living document being redrafted to align with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy policy document “Accelerating Our Collective Responsibility”, which has five strategic pillars namely which revolve around knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship & capital and trade.
According to the NITDA boss, these programmes aim to empower individuals to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and access online opportunities. “This resonates with the knowledge pillar of the ministry tailored to accelerate the collective responsibilities of all stakeholders towards achieving inclusivity in all its dimensions which supports the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda that is focused on propelling the Nigerian economy and enhancing the welfare of its citizens”, he said.
Hence, he stated that the workshop goal is to create widespread awareness about the NDLF through interactive sessions and discussions, providing stakeholders with a deeper understanding of its components, target audiences and potential impact on bridging the digital divide among Nigerians.
Additionally, the director-general emphasised the importance of collective action in the successful implementation of the NDLF, expressing gratitude for the collaboration with partners and the participation of stakeholders. He affirmed that tailoring the framework to the specific needs of Nigeria’s diverse population is crucial for achieving maximum effectiveness.
Abdullahi expressed confidence that the NDLF, coupled with collaborative efforts, will play a pivotal role in empowering Nigerians with the digital skills necessary to actively participate in the digital economy, access online information and opportunities and contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous society. He urged participants to continue collaborations to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s digital future.
The commission manager of GIZ/DTC Nigeria, Dr. Thuweba Diwani anticipated that the awareness session would foster dialogue and result in a “Participatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF)” stating, “for policies to be sustainable, they need to be owned by the people”.
The Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria (DTC Nigeria), funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, focuses on digitalisation, innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. It aims to enhance the country’s digital innovation ecosystem and boost its capacity for adopting digital innovations for economic and societal growth.
Various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) participated in the dialogue, including the National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Lagos Public Private Partnership (PPP), Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), representatives of MTN Foundation, CISCO, Tech4Dev, Faith Foundation, among others.
The moderator and ecosystem industry enthusiast, Mr. Tayo Olosunde affirmed that similar stakeholder sessions had been conducted in Kano and Abuja.
