All Nigerian institutions will now offer digital literacy as a general course thanks to a partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National institutions Commission (NUC) and
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the NUC headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, this collaboration builds on the success of the Digital Literacy for All initiative (DL4ALL) implemented at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and marks a significant milestone in advancing digital skills and preparing Nigeria’s youth for the digital economy.
He underlined that attaining Nigeria’s objectives for the digital economy depends on providing pupils with the fundamental digital skills they need through formal education. He clarified that developing talent and promoting digital literacy are two of the eight pillars of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0).
“We aim to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030. Embedding digital skills as a general course in universities is a sustainable solution to achieve this target,” he added.
Building on the Nasarawa State University pilot, where digital literacy was introduced as a self learning credit-earning course with support from Cisco, NITDA seeks to replicate the model nationwide.
“With NUC’s support, we can make digital literacy a standard requirement like English and Mathematics, empowering students to navigate and contribute to the digital economy effectively,” said Inuwa.
Emphasising the role of universities in achieving these goals, Inuwa said, “Universities are critical stakeholders, and esearch is the foundation of any robust economy, and we must collaborate to build a technology research ecosystem that addresses national challenges.”
The Nigerian Start-Up Act, a legislative framework that will foster entrepreneurial ecosystems, is one way that he specifically emphasised the significance of matching education with industrial demands. Under NUC’s direction, academic institutions can modify their curricula to give students highly sought-after abilities, guaranteeing that they graduate as job creators rather than job seekers.
The DG reiterated the significance of collaboration, according to him, “no one succeeds in isolation. This partnership with NUC is vital for achieving our vision. Together, we can prepare our citizens for the future, bridge the digital divide, and position Nigeria as a global talent hub.”
Following the DG’s remarks, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris J. Maiyaki, commended the initiative and affirmed the commission’s commitment to driving digital transformation within Nigeria’s university system.
^The rapidity of change in the digital revolution makes a strong case for the Nigerian university system to be part and parcel of this transformation,” he said, highlighting the importance of incorporating digital literacy into the university curriculum. One resource that has a big impact is digital literacy; these days, it’s nearly impossible to function without strong technology abilities.
Maiyaki was upbeat about the collaboration and reiterated his dedication to seeing it through to completion, despite recognising the difficulties Nigerian colleges confront in terms of digital infrastructure.
“We are very proud of this initiative. It presents huge potential for our university system to key into the rapidly expanding digital landscape. Using digital platforms to enrich our research ecosystem and exploring the possibilities of artificial intelligence are cross-cutting issues that can transform higher education,” he added.
