Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reiterated the agency’s dedication to promoting inclusive digital transformation, especially among Nigeria’s displaced individuals. He shared this information during a strategic meeting with the leadership of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja.
Inuwa emphasised the successful partnership that NITDA and NCFRMI have built over the years through workforce training and ICT support. He announced intentions to “revive and enhance this collaboration by providing new IT equipment and launching customised digital literacy initiatives in resettlement areas.” This programme is in line with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027), which seeks to achieve 70% digital literacy across the nation by 2027, a key aspect of the Federal Government’s digital economy strategy.
In outlining NITDA’s renewed initiatives, he included several primary strategies: Setting up community-oriented digital learning centres equipped with shared devices, deploying trained National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to provide ICT training in resettlement camps, and offering ICT infrastructure specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of each community.
Inuwa also disclosed that NITDA is collaborating with an international organisation to implement tech hubs within Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps situated in the Federal Capital Territory. He stressed the importance of creating a formalised workstream between both agencies to perform joint needs assessments in resettlement areas and camps, develop and implement tailored interventions for every community, and establish a scalable, replicable model for national implementation. This partnership, Inuwa stressed, is essential for increasing impact and reaching more vulnerable Nigerians, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, praised NITDA’s leadership in promoting national growth. He pointed out that Nigeria currently accommodates over 6.1 million internally displaced persons due to factors such as insecurity, insurgency, and natural disasters, in addition to over 125,000 Nigerians seeking refuge in neighbouring nations. While the Federal Government works to tackle these issues, stronger partnerships are necessary to empower at-risk populations.
Commissioner Ahmed emphasised that the alliance goes beyond providing digital tools, aiming to restore dignity and create opportunities. He added that enhancing host communities by ensuring access to clean water, improved schools, and healthcare services is also an objective. Resettlement centres have already been established in Kano, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Daura, with a new site in Keffi, Nasarawa State, currently accommodating over 40 households. These centres offer homes, healthcare facilities, markets, schools, vocational training centres, and agricultural land to help displaced individuals rebuild their lives.
“Digital literacy has become an essential element of empowerment. With initiatives like JAMB’s transition to Computer-Based Testing, displaced children and youth must develop the ICT skills necessary to succeed in today’s society. We are fully committed to collaborating with NITDA to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to thrive.”
