The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and UNICCON Group, has unveiled the digital literacy mobile app and the Omeife AI app, representing a significant leap in technological innovation and inclusivity.
This revolutionary digital literacy app is designed to interact seamlessly in four local languages: Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and Pidgin.
At the launch event, NITDA’s director-general, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi, highlighted the agency’s commitment to partnering with UNICCON Group to develop the digital literacy app. He emphasised the importance of digital literacy as a fundamental currency for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Abdullahi commended the ongoing collaboration with GIZ on implementing the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and the recent blueprint unveiled by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani aiming to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by the end of 2023. He emphasised the need for technologies like the newly launched apps to help achieve these ambitious targets.
He also encouraged UNICCON Group to participate in upcoming policy dialogues in Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt to showcase Omeife and gather feedback for further improvements. These policy dialogues offer a platform for critical industry stakeholders to co-create policies and strategies in alignment with the government’s vision.
Abdullahi expressed Nigeria’s growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential benefits of AI, including the creation of algorithms and robots that can work for humans. The integration of AI with biology is expected to bring forth numerous innovations, such as 3D printing of human organs and the growth of plants and meat from stem cells. He stressed the importance of building AI technology locally to preserve Nigerian culture and values while remaining competitive in the global technological landscape.
Chairman of UNICCON Group, Dr. Chuks Ekweme introduced the Omeife AI app, which is tailored to meet the needs of Nigerian and African users, both literate and illiterate. Omeife offers an interactive and personalised experience for users seeking to acquire digital literacy skills.
This launch represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward becoming a global technological superpower, and it reaffirms the nation’s commitment to harnessing emerging technologies to empower its citizens and strengthen the digital economy.
