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In its ongoing mission to position Nigeria as a global technology and innovation hub, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is partnering with relevant organisations to extend the benefits of digital technology to all local governments across the country. This initiative aims to drive economic diversification and boost productivity in all sectors.
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NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasized this commitment during a recent meeting with Senior Special Advisers to the President on Community Engagement: Barr Chioma Nweze (South East), Ms. Moremi Ojudu (South West), and Hon. Abdallah Tanko Yakassai (North West). The advisers visited NITDA to explore collaborative opportunities for advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Aligning with President Tinubu’s administration’s priorities, Abdullahi outlined the agency’s vision for fostering inclusive economic growth through technological innovation. This vision supports the president’s eight priority areas, which include economic reform, national security, agricultural advancement, infrastructure development, education and health improvement, and digital diversification.
Abdullahi highlighted NITDA’s newly developed Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) for 2024-2027, which is designed to support the presidential priorities. One of the key pillars of SRAP is “Foster Digital Literacy and Cultivate Talents,” with a goal of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 and an interim target of 70% by 2027.
To achieve these targets, NITDA is working with the Ministry of Education to integrate digital literacy into academic curricula and developing standardized training and certifications as prerequisites for government employment. The agency is also promoting digital literacy among market traders, artisans, and other community members through various channels, including TV programs, social media, radio, and roadshows.
Abdullahi also highlighted the “3 Million Tech Talent” program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and NITDA. This initiative aims to identify skill gaps and build the capacity of Nigerian youths in high-demand digital skills. To date, over 30,000 individuals have been trained, with the second phase of the program currently underway.
Further detailing the SRAP’s strategic pillars, Abdullahi discussed efforts to build a robust technology research ecosystem, strengthen policy implementation and legal frameworks, promote inclusive access to digital infrastructure and services, enhance cybersecurity and digital trust, nurture an innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, forge strategic partnerships, and cultivate a vibrant organizational culture within NITDA.
Hon. Yakassai praised NITDA’s efforts and expressed his team’s readiness to collaborate in promoting the agency’s initiatives across Nigeria’s 774 local governments. He emphasized the importance of grassroots engagement to ensure that government programs reach and benefit all citizens.
“Mr. President is a grassroots person, which is why this office was created—to ensure that government initiatives are effectively communicated and implemented at the local level,” Yakassai stated.
