DL4ALL: Nigerian Government equips Federal Civil Servants with digital literacy skills

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, at a three-day workshop on digital literacy training and certification for Federal Civil Servants in Abuja, emphasises that digital transformation is a journey, and it is fundamentally about people, not technology

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a digital literacy training programme for Federal Civil Servants in a bid to enhance the skills and competencies of the government employees in navigating digital tools and technologies.

ConsumerConnect reports the digital literacy initiative is a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

NITDA explained the programme “aims to equip civil servants with the necessary skills to effectively utilise digital technologies, thereby improving their productivity and efficiency.”

The Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency also noted this is particularly important as digital transformation is fundamentally about people.

According to NITDA, having a workforce that is proficient in digital tools is crucial for driving economic growth and development in Nigeria.

Speaking on the initiative, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, at the launch of a three-day workshop on digital literacy training and certification for Federal Civil Servants in Abuja, FCT, emphasised that digital transformation is a journey, not a destination, and it is fundamentally about people, not technology.

Inuwa explained that without the active involvement and engagement of individuals, technology alone would not drive meaningful change.

The Director-General of NITDA stated: “Technology makes our lives better, the government cannot accomplish that without you, as you are the one who creates the policies, designs the services, and delivers them to citizens.”

He equally disclosed that in order to reach the ambitious goal of 70 percent digital literacy by 2027, NITDA has launched an innovative initiative called Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL).

According to him, the programme is aimed at empowering Nigerians with essential digital skills, making them digitally literate and proficient in navigating the digital landscape.

“The first initiative to work with the Ministry of Education to develop digital literacy skills curriculum has been approved and we started the implementation this month.

“We are working now on training all teachers and collaborating with National University Commission, National Board for Technical Education, and National Commission for Colleges of Education, to infuse it in all tertiary institutions curriculum,” Inuwa said.

The NITDA Chief Executive further noted: “The second one is working with NYSC to recruit 80 champions in each NYSC stream, every year we will train at least ten million and three hundred thousand Nigerians on digital literacy.

“And the third one is the workforce readiness. According to world Bank, by 2030 between 35 to 45 percent of work in Nigeria will need digital competency.”

In her remarks on the occasion, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, the representative of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, emphasised the importance of transforming the Civil Service into a dynamic, technology-driven, and globally competitive workforce, adding that the vision is a cornerstone of the Federal Service Commission’s strategy and implementation plan, which prioritises the journey towards a digitally literate civil service.

She maintained that the workshop is not just a training exercise, but a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of Nigeria’s public service.

Mrs. Mahmood said: “By acquiring cutting-edge tools and knowledge, participants will be empowered to deliver their mandate more effectively, driving meaningful change and progress in the country.”

Acknowledging that the partnership between the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and NITDA, serves as a shining example of collaboration in achieving shared goals, she also expressed her gratitude to NITDA and other participating organisations for their roles in bringing this vision to life.

Mahmood stated: “This collaboration underscores the importance of working together to harness the power of digital technology and drive meaningful change in Nigeria’s public service.”

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