The news:
- In a move to boost digital skills in Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has kicked off the first phase of its "Digital Literacy for All" (DL4ALL) initiative.
- The programme, in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), aims to empower millions of Nigerians with essential digital skills by leveraging the reach of youth corps members.
- Launched in 12 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, Cross River, Bayelsa, Abia, and Ebonyi, the initiative marks a key milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027.
In these states, sensitisation sessions have already begun, introducing NYSC corps members in camp and local communities to the programme’s goals.
Emphasising the critical role of youth corps members in the initiative, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, NITDA’s Director-General, stated "These young graduates are strategically positioned across Nigeria to serve as digital literacy champions in the communities they are assigned to."
The programme, which plans to leverage the existing NYSC structure, will use corps members to deliver hands-on training in various digital skills, driving digital skills training in even the most remote areas.
The programme is part of NITDA’s broader Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which focuses on fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent across Nigeria. The initiative aims to increase access to essential services, improve employability, and enhance participation in the growing digital economy, through equipping citizens with basic digital skills.
NITDA plans to train 30 million Nigerians — particularly youth — through the DL4ALL initiative, which is part of a larger national goal to ensure that 95% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2030, in line with global trends and the country’s aspirations for a thriving digital economy.
One of the unique aspects of this initiative is its decentralised approach, which uses corps members as trainers in their respective communities, targeting the most underserved areas.
Additionally, NITDA expects this approach to build trust within local communities since trainers are often seen as part of the community.
In 2023, NITDA announced a collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Certified Fraud Investigator of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) to establish Nigeria’s first cybersecurity laboratory. Although the lab's launch was slated for 2024, updates on its completion are still pending. On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, NITDA, disclosed plans to begin verifying NYSC certificates using blockchain as a way to curb the widespread forgery and fraudulent issuance of NYSC certificates. Updates on this blockchain project remain limited, with no concrete public rollout yet observed.
