The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC), has announced plans to introduce digital literacy as a compulsory general course in all Nigerian universities.
This initiative is part of efforts to equip students with essential digital skills to thrive in the digital economy.
The partnership was disclosed by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Director General of NITDA, during a courtesy visit to the NUC headquarters in Abuja.
Abdullahi highlighted the initiative as a significant milestone in advancing Nigeria’s digital literacy agenda, building on the success of the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) pilot program implemented at Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
“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,” Abdullahi said. He added that the initiative aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which prioritizes fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent.
The DL4ALL initiative, supported by Cisco, introduced digital literacy as a self-learning, credit-earning course at Nasarawa State University.
Building on this success, NITDA plans to replicate the model nationwide, ensuring students graduate with the skills required to excel in the digital economy.
“Universities are critical stakeholders. Research is the foundation of any robust economy, and we must collaborate to build a technology research ecosystem that addresses national challenges,” Abdullahi added. He also emphasized the need for aligning university curricula with industry demands, supported by the Nigerian Start-Up Act, which fosters entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Chris J. Maiyaki, praised the initiative, affirming the commission’s commitment to driving digital transformation across Nigerian universities.
“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. Digital literacy is one resource with profound impact; you can hardly function today without significant technological skills,” Maiyaki said.
While acknowledging infrastructure challenges faced by Nigerian universities, Maiyaki expressed optimism about the partnership’s success.
He noted that leveraging digital platforms could enrich Nigeria’s research ecosystem and advance higher education through technologies such as artificial intelligence.
