The Federal Government has launched a digital literacy training programme for federal civil servants, an initiative aimed at enhancing productivity and efficiency in the public service through the effective use of digital technologies.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, seeks to equip civil servants with the skills needed to navigate the digital transformation landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the three-day workshop on digital literacy training and certification in Abuja, Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, underscored the importance of empowering the workforce to leverage technology effectively.
“Digital transformation is a journey, not a destination, and it is fundamentally about people, not technology. Without the active involvement and engagement of individuals, technology alone will not drive meaningful change,” Inuwa said.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving 70% digital literacy among Nigerians by 2027 through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative.
“We have launched initiatives to achieve this goal, including a partnership with the Ministry of Education to develop a digital literacy skills curriculum that has already been approved and is now being implemented. We are also collaborating with the National University Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education to integrate digital literacy into tertiary institution curricula,” he revealed.
Inuwa added that the partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) aims to train 80 digital literacy champions from each NYSC stream, with an ambitious target of training 10.3 million Nigerians annually in digital literacy.
According to the World Bank, by 2030, 35% to 45% of jobs in Nigeria will require digital competencies, highlighting the urgency of the initiative.
Representing the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, reiterated the government’s vision of transforming the civil service into a dynamic, technology-driven, and globally competitive workforce.
“The workshop is not just a training exercise but a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria’s public service. By acquiring cutting-edge tools and knowledge, participants will be empowered to deliver their mandates more effectively, driving meaningful change and progress in the country,” she said.
Mahmood lauded the collaboration between NITDA and the Office of the Head of Service, describing it as a model of partnership in achieving shared goals.
“This collaboration underscores the importance of working together to harness the power of digital technology and drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s public service,” she added.
