*Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency urges participants in the stakeholders’ sensitisation forum in Lagos to continue collaborations to unlock the full potential of the country’s digital future

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

As part of effort at bridging the digital divide and empower Nigerians with essential digital skills, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the GIZ/DTC, recently held a stakeholder awareness forum on the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), in Lagos.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in his opening remarks, emphasised the critical role of digital literacy skills in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Inuwa highlighted the NDLF as a comprehensive roadmap developed by NITDA, in collaboration with key stakeholders.

He stressed the objective of the framework is to equip Nigerians with the necessary digital skills to thrive in the digital age.

Inuwa, represented at the forum by Dr. Falilat Jimoh of the Digital Inclusion Unit of the聽 Agency鈥檚 South West Zonal Office (SWZO), asserted that the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Education were underscored, focusing on integrating the framework’s provisions into the national school curriculum.

Inuwa stated: “This initiative aims to equip students from a young age with foundational digital skills essential for future success.”

The Director-General of the IT sector regulatory agency said NITDA’s partnership with GIZ/DTC was to establish robust standards for digital literacy content, ensuring high-quality and relevant learning materials aligned with the objectives of NDLF.

NITDA’s commitment to digital inclusion, he noted, extends beyond formal education, with ongoing digital literacy programmes targeting women, artisans, and other underserved segments of the society.

Inuwa also emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts, stating that the framework enables the implementation of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, 2024鈥�2027 pillars, 鈥淔ostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talents鈥�.

He further said: “The SRAP 2.0 is a living document that is being redrafted to align with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy policy document 鈥淎ccelerating Our Collective Responsibility鈥�, which has Five strategic pillars namely, Knowledge, Policy, Infrastructure, Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Capital, and Trade.

According to the NITDA boss, these programs aim to empower individuals to participate meaningfully in the digital economy and access online opportunities.”

The NITDA Chief asserted: “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.”

According to him, 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.

The Director-General further emphasised the importance of collective action in the successful implementation of the NDLF, as he expressed gratitude for the collaboration with partners and the participation of stakeholders.

Inuwa affirmed that the significance of tailoring the framework to the specific needs of Nigeria’s diverse population is to achieve maximum effectiveness.

The NITDA Chief Executive as well expressed confidence that the NDLF, coupled with collaborative efforts, would play a pivotal role in empowering Nigerians with the digital skills necessary to actively participate in the digital economy, and access online information and opportunities while contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous society.

Inuwa, therefore, urged participants in the programme to continue collaborations to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s digital future.

Earlier, Dr. Thuweba Diwani the Commission Manager GIZ/DTC Nigeria in her opening remarks delivered by Olusegun Alimi, Technical Advisor at GIZ/DTC Nigeria, anticipated that the awareness session would be an avenue to dialogue and come up with a 鈥淧articipatory Policy Implementation Framework (PPIF)鈥�.

Dr. Diwani submitted that 鈥渇or policies to be sustainable they need to be owned by the people.”

The Digital Transformation Centre Nigeria (DTC Nigeria) is a project funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft Fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

It focuses on digitalisation, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria, aiming to enhance the country’s digital innovation ecosystem and boost its capacity for adopting digital innovations for economic and societal growth.

Other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the stakeholder engagement dialogue included 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), and the private sector, represented include the MTN Foundation, CISCO, Tech4Dev and Faith Foundation among others.

Mr. Tayo Olosunde, an ecosystem industry enthusiast and moderator of the forum, affirmed that the stakeholders鈥� sessions had also been held in Kano and Abuja, FCT.

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