*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, in his special address at the recent launching ceremony of the agency鈥檚 Digital Literacy For All initiative at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, underscores the significance of building a digitally-skilled workforce that will accelerate Nigeria’s economic growth and development

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), has launched the Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL) initiative at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), in Nigeria, towards incorporating digital literacy into the institution鈥檚 curriculum.

绿帽献妻 reports NITDA noted the launch is part of its continued efforts at reforming the economy for sustained inclusive economic growth and actualising the presidential target of equipping 70 percent of Nigerian citizens with digital literacy and skills by the year 2027,

The Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency also stated that it activated the DL4ALL initiative in collaboration with CISCO and the Nasarawa State University Keffi.

According to NITDA, the overarching aims of the programme is to ensure that students of the academic institution at every level of learning achieve digital literacy before graduation, and to support the presidential target of 70 percent digital literacy among its citizenry by 2027.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, in his special address at the launching ceremony, expressed his excitement at the remarkable milestone achievement, that the ecosystem collaboratively made in ensuring inclusive access to digital literacy for all.

Inuwa stated: 鈥淚t is a pivotal moment for our relationship of building the ecosystem in terms of bringing the industry, the academia and the government to work together.鈥�

The Director-General said with Cisco鈥檚 support and government-backed frameworks, digitally-proficient graduates who would plug seamlessly into the workforce would be produced rather than only Degree holders.

Citing projections from the World Economic Forum which estimates a global talent shortage of 85 million people by 2030, potentially resulting in $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual revenue, Inuwa averred that Africa and Nigeria in particular, have a tremendous opportunity to fill the gap.

He also emphasised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration鈥檚 directive of driving economic transformation through technology and skills development,

Inuwa stated that it was essential to build a digitally skilled workforce that would accelerate the country’s economic growth and development.

He further noted: 鈥淚n a world we live in聽today where digital is a lifestyle, digital literacy is no longer optional, but it is a necessity because we need it to be included in everything we do. Today, to be digitally included economically, and聽financially, you need to be digitally literate, so you need to have the fluency to navigate the digital world.鈥�

As regards the NDLF, which produced the DL4ALL initiative, Inuwa as well mentioned that the initiative would help build a digitally savvy population that cuts across all sectors because Information Technology is pervasive.

He equally enumerated the core competencies of the framework as device and software operation, information and data literacy, collaboration and communication, digital content creation, safety, and lastly, problem management.

Inuwa asserted that the competencies would allow students to safely and effectively use technology in creating content, managing data, solving problems and collaborations with students in other universities.

He explained that the launch of the DL4ALL at NSUK aligns with Nigeria鈥檚 mission of achieving digital sovereignty and would empower students not just to secure jobs but to create them, particularly through entrepreneurship programs that encourage students to start businesses before graduation.

Urging the students to embrace technology as a limitless platform that will inspire them to be innovative and fearless, Inuwa said: 鈥淚 believe with technology, your limitation is your imagination because with the ubiquitous data we have today, unlimited connective and massive processing power, you all can achieve whatsoever you imagine.鈥�

Earlier in her welcome address, Prof. Sadaatu Hassan Liman, Vice-Chancellor of NSUK, described the partnership between the university and NITDA as a transformative one that would allow students of the university to聽leverage the DL4ALL programme in acquiring digital skills that would enable them to聽thrive in the 21st-century global landscape.

Prof. Liman averred that the programme is not only empowering the students but positioning the university as a regional leader in Information and Communications Technology and emerging technologies.

鈥淭his strategic integration of cutting edge technologies into our academic offerings will open up a lot of opportunities to our students and staff as well, allowing them to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and innovative mindsets required to navigate the rapidly evolving digital world,鈥� she said.

NITDA added that the highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of the DL4ALL in NSUK emblem which was done by the dignitaries at the event.

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