NITDA: Nigeria’s human capital critical to global competitiveness

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency says the country’s youthful and rapidly expanding population presents a unique opportunity as several countries are facing ageing populations and declining workforces

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The National Information Technology Development Agency has emphasised the critical role of Nigeria’s human capital in driving national development and positioning the country for global competitiveness.

ConsumerConnect reports Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, stared this while receiving a delegation from the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, FCT.

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Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s youthful and rapidly expanding population presents a unique opportunity at a time when several countries are facing ageing populations and declining workforces.

The Director-General of the IT regulatory agency also explained that the global demand for technical talent is projected to significantly outstrip supply by 2030, creating a window for Nigeria to emerge as a major contributor to the global workforce.

“With the right investments in education and digital skills, Nigeria can transform its demographic advantage into a powerful engine for economic growth and global relevance,” stated he.

Inuwa emphasised that Nigeria has the potential to become a global talent hub and a net exporter of skilled professionals. Reframing migration narratives, he described Nigerians in the Diaspora as valuable national assets who contribute through remittances and knowledge transfer.

He equally noted that Diaspora inflows remain one of Nigeria’s most stable sources of Foreign Exchange (Forex).

Drawing comparisons with India, Inuwa highlighted how sustained investments in human capital have enabled the Asian country to produce top executives in leading global technology firms.

He attributed this success to a deliberate system of talent development and global placement.

Addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school population, he said equipping millions of underserved individuals with digital skills could unlock vast economic opportunities and help bridge the global talent gap.

Central to this ambition, he said, is NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework, which targets achieving 95 per cent digital literacy nationwide by 2030.

The framework focuses on six key areas: device and software operation, information and data literacy, digital content creation, digital marketing, online safety, and problem-solving.

Inuwa further explained that digital skills could transform critical sectors such as agriculture and commerce.

Farmers, he said, can leverage digital tools and smartphones to improve productivity through data-driven decisions, while small-scale traders can expand their reach and boost income using online platforms.

On implementation, he unveiled the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, which targets students, workers, and participants in the informal sector.

He also disclosed ongoing partnerships with global organisations aimed at training civil servants and strengthening institutional capacity.

The NITDA Chief restated the agency’s commitment to collaborating with the Almajiri Commission to establish digital learning centres, develop training programmes in indigenous languages, and deploy instructors to Almajiri schools across the country.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Muhammad Sani Idris, had commended NITDA’s efforts at promoting digital literacy.

Idris described them as crucial to bridging Nigeria’s education gap.

He also mentioned concern over the growing number of out-of-school children.

According to him, the traditional Almajiri system—originally designed for Qur’anic education—has been weakened by years of neglect and socio-economic pressures.

He related that several children are sent far from home without adequate care, exposing them to exploitation and insecurity.

Idris, therfore, advocated a coordinated action among government, communities, and development partners to address the crisis, highlighting the trans-border nature of the Almajiri system and the need for strategic collaboration.

He also expressed optimism about deepening partnerships with NITDA to leverage digital innovation in expanding access to education and creating better opportunities for millions of Nigerian children.

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