NITDA digital literacy training aims to equip 50m Nigerians with essential skills by 2027 under a nationwide programme approved by President Tinubu
NITDA digital literacy training has been placed at the heart of Nigeria’s digital transformation efforts as the National Information Technology Development Agency announced a far-reaching plan to equip 50 million citizens with essential digital skills by 2027.
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The initiative, backed by presidential approval, forms one of the country’s most ambitious human-capital development drives in decades.
Speaking in Abuja after the close of the 2025 Digital Nigeria Conference, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa said the programme would redefine Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and help lift the nation’s Gross Domestic Product through a skilled population ready for the digital economy.
He described the training rollout as a powerful step towards nationwide socio-economic renewal.
Inuwa explained that the NITDA digital literacy training framework is being executed in three structured layers covering the education sector, the civil service and the informal economy.
The agency has already partnered with the Ministry of Education to embed digital literacy into the national curriculum, beginning from early years through to tertiary institutions.
Teachers across the country are now undergoing specialised training to deliver the new curriculum.
He added that several universities have piloted the programme by treating digital literacy as a compulsory general studies course.
This approach mirrors the way English is taught, ensuring that every student leaves school with fundamental digital competence, which Inuwa described as a transformative shift.
The second phase focuses on the public service, where more than 30,000 civil servants have already enrolled on NITDA’s learning platform.
Multiple state governments have adopted the agency’s digital literacy framework, enabling large-scale training for their workforce.
The informal sector strategy, which Inuwa called a powerful force multiplier, is being driven through the National Youth Service Corps.
Each NYSC stream recruits 80 digital literacy champions per state, including the FCT.
The champions are tasked with training at least two people daily, amounting to 600 individuals per champion annually.
With more than 16,760 champions active each year nationwide, the programme is expected to reach well over 10 million Nigerians every year.
According to Inuwa, three years of this model will deliver more than 30 million skilled individuals, while the formal education system is projected to cover an additional 50 million students.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria will move from 50 to 70 percent digital literacy by 2027, calling the effort a powerful catalyst for national growth.
Reflecting on the success of the Digital Nigeria Conference, the NITDA boss said 25 states participated and the event attracted 4,400 attendees from 12 countries.
Key discussions centred on extending digital infrastructure to underserved areas and ensuring that all citizens fully participate in the digital economy.
Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies also dominated the conversation.
Inuwa noted that while technology continues to reshape work and daily life, Nigerians must position themselves to benefit from these disruptions.
He warned that it is not technology itself that replaces people but outdated skills, making the NITDA digital literacy training programme even more urgent and impactful.
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With its aggressive scale, structured rollout and clear national goals, the initiative represents a bold and inspiring leap toward a digitally confident Nigeria.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
