The Federal Government has started a digital literacy training program for federal civil workers in an effort to improve their abilities to use digital tools and technologies.
The Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are working together on this project.
Since digital transformation is essentially about people and having a workforce that is proficient in digital tools is essential for driving economic growth and development, the program aims to give civil servants the skills they need to use digital technologies effectively, increasing their productivity and efficiency.
At the opening of a three-day workshop on digital literacy training and certification for federal government officials in Abuja, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa highlighted that digital transformation is a process rather than a final goal and that people, not technology, are at the centre of it.
He stressed that without the active involvement and engagement of individuals, technology alone will not drive meaningful change. He said, “Technology makes our lives better; the government cannot accomplish that without you, as you are the one who creates the policies, designs the services, and delivers them to citizens”
According to Inuwa, the agency has started a creative project called Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) to equip Nigerians with the necessary digital skills to become digitally literate and adept at navigating the digital world to meet the ambitious target of 70% digital literacy by 2027.
“The first initiative to work with the Ministry of Education to develop a digital literacy skills curriculum has been approved, and we started the implementation this month. We are working now on training all teachers and collaborating with the National University Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education to infuse it into all tertiary institutions’ curricula.
“The second one is working with NYSC to recruit 80 champions in each NYSC stream; every year we will train at least ten million and three hundred thousand Nigerians on digital literacy. And the third one is the workforce readiness. According to the World Bank, by 2030, between 35 and 45 percent of work in Nigeria will need digital competency,” he added.
The representative of the Head of Service of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, emphasised the importance of transforming the civil service into a dynamic, technology-driven, and globally competitive workforce, adding that the vision is a cornerstone of the Federal Service Commission’s strategy and implementation plan, which prioritises the journey towards a digitally literate civil service.
She maintained that the workshop is not just a training exercise but a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria’s public service. “By acquiring cutting-edge tools and knowledge, participants will be empowered to deliver their mandate more effectively, driving meaningful change and progress in the country, she averred.
While acknowledging that the partnership between the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and NITDA serves as a shining example of collaboration in achieving shared goals, she expressed her gratitude to NITDA and other participating organisations for their roles in bringing this vision to life.
“This collaboration underscores the importance of working together to harness the power of digital technology and drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s public service,” she added.
