The director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, has revealed that plans are underway by the agency to train over 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) on digital literacy.
Speaking when he received the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI), Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, in his office in Abuja. Abdullahi said the training would enable the seamless reintegration of Nigerian citizens displaced as a result of insecurity back into the society.
The DG said training the IDPs on digital literacy is part of the implementation of NITDA’s Strategic RoadMap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024) to enable a fast-growing digital economy for Nigerians.
“Education as an important, identifiable tool for alleviating poverty in the President Muhammed Buhari’s administration has been actively and positively employed by NITDA.
“Employing digital literacy and skills strategy, being one of the seven pillars of NITDA’s SRAP, is in line with the implementation of the National Digital Economic Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) which promotes the use of digital technology to expand and diversify Nigeria’s economy.
“Following a methodological approach is necessary to achieve a SMART initiative. A combination of capable people, due process and deployment of adequate technology is required,” he said.
While explaining some of NITDA’s interventions, especially in capacity-building, he noted that the agency has continuously engaged in several training sessions across the six geo-political zones of the country, with the use of different platforms for virtual and physical training.
Earlier in her remarks, Ibrahim said her organisation was seeking collaboration in training, technical and tool support from NITDA to promote digital inclusion and national development.
She noted that there were over 4 million internally displaced Nigerians and the number was doubling at an alarming rate, due to floods and other natural disasters.
The commissioner expressed optimism that NITDA’s initiative will contribute to the diversification of the economy and elevate 100 million people out of poverty in 10 years as projected by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
