……Says NITDA, security agencies intend to use digital tools to combat kidnapping and terrorism.
……Releases its draft version of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2024–2027, (SRAP 2.0).
Nigeria aims to have a digital literacy rate of 70% by 2027 and 95% by 2030. Digital literacy will be taught in the country’s educational system, according to the federal government.
Kashifu Abdullahi, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), made this announcement on Wednesday in Abuja during a media parley.
During the presentation of NITDA’s digital literacy roadmap, Kashifu Abdullahi mentioned that the agency’s endeavour involves the Federal Ministry of Education incorporating digital literacy into the country’s educational curriculum.
“We are working with the Ministry of Education to review the curriculum across the formal education, from nursery to university so that we can infuse digital literacy in our formal education and by doing that, we can empower Nigerians to have digital skills before graduating.”
“We are also conceptualising other initiatives like we will unveil the Digital Literacy for All Initiative very soon which will educate Nigerians outside the formal education and give access to quality digital content so that they have the knowledge to navigate around digital technology and digital economy.”
He added that the campaign for digital literacy will not exclude women, children, or those with special needs. “We have other initiatives targeting women, children and people with special needs, so we can carry everyone to achieve that 95 per cent digital literacy.
For Nigeria to become a significant global outsourcing hub, he claims that the country will train more than two million young people in the twelve most in-demand IT skills.
To address the nation’s security concerns, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), and other security authorities are investigating how to create and implement digital solutions.
Drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and other digital resources would be used as digital solutions to fight banditry, abduction, and terrorism throughout Nigeria.
To tackle terrorism and other security issues that Nigeria has, he clarified that the collaboration between Cisco DHQ and other security agencies would offer chances for active participation, innovations, and co-creation of digital technologies and assets.
The agency’s draft SRAP 2.0, an aspirational plan that aims to establish Nigeria as a digitally empowered nation, was presented by DG-NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, during the media parley. This strategy has a lot of potential, and if it is carried out well, Nigeria may enter a new phase of digital empowerment.
He emphasised how SRAP 2.0 embodies the agency’s resolve to use innovation to propel national prosperity and inclusivity, thereby establishing Nigeria as a leader in the global digital economy.
