The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi has announced the agency’s goal to achieve a 70 per cent digital literacy level by 2027.
Abdullahi made this declaration during a one-day press parley/breakfast meeting with the director in Abuja, themed ‘building exceptional media relations, strengthening bonds beyond headlines.’
He revealed that the agency’s vision is to empower Nigeria digitally and enhance economic growth through technological innovations.
The agency aims to accomplish this by promoting digital transformation through innovation, accessibility, and creating an enabling environment that fosters creativity to drive progress via the implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and enhancing widespread access to digital education.
Aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, the agency has unveiled a Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2024-2027). This document showcases our unwavering dedication to positioning Nigeria as a leading figure in the global digital economy by leveraging digital innovation to stimulate national prosperity and inclusivity.
The president instructed the Ministry of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy to expedite the diversification of the economy by boosting productivity in vital sectors.
The ministry has developed five critical blueprint pillars, including knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship and capital and trade.
NITDA’s strategic pillars and action plan aim to empower Nigeria digitally, encapsulating its commitment to elevating Nigeria to a prominent position in the global digital economy by harnessing the potential of innovation and entrepreneurship. Its strategies include:
“Fostering digital literacy and nurturing talents. To achieve this, we must promote digital literacy. We have developed the NDLF with an ambitious goal of attaining 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 and an interim target of 70 per cent by 2027.”
The agency said it will collaborate with the Ministry of Education to revamp the curriculum across all formal education levels from nursery to universities. Identifying 12 high-demand skills, we have designed the 3million Tech Talents (3MTT) Training Initiative to equip youths, women and children for global digital opportunities. Training 3 million Nigerians in these 12 in-demand skills will enable some to serve the local market and others to seek opportunities beyond Nigeria.
For the goal to establish a robust technology research ecosystem to position Nigeria at the forefront of the digital revolution, the agency said, “We aim to place Nigeria in the top 25 per cent of nations in six technology areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, blockchain and additive manufacturing, attracting global partnerships.”
– Strengthening policy implementation and legal frameworks to create an enabling environment conducive to innovation and growth for investors.
– Promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure and services to ensure everyone is digitally connected to this infrastructure system.
– Enhancing cybersecurity and building digital trust by promoting more secure digital signatures, fostering e-trust.
– Nurturing an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem to position Nigeria as a hub for IT products and services, fostering creativity among entrepreneurs.
– Forging strategic partnerships and collaborations to align with the private sector and have a shared vision, partnering with other countries to exchange ideas and guide individuals on leveraging digital processes.
– Cultivating a vibrant organisational culture and an agile workforce within NITDA to instill the right mindset and encourage continuous learning.
He affirmed that if NITDA succeeds in digital initiatives, other agencies will follow suit in digital advancements.
During her address, the director of corporate affairs and external relations unit, Mrs. Hadiza Umar urged the media to strive for accuracy and engage freely with the agency.
