*Kashifu Inuwa Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, challenges Nigerian educators to move beyond examination-focused teaching, and equip the youths with practical digital skills that can translate into jobs, innovation and economic growth in the country
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
In advancing the Nigeria Digital Economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has challenged Nigerian educators to move beyond examination-focused teaching, and equip the youths with practical digital skills that can translate into jobs, innovation and economic growth in the country.
ConsumerConnect reports Malam Kashifu Inuwa Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA stated this at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026.
UK, NITDA, NCAIR, others deepen collaboration on AI governance, digital transformation
NITDA and Cisco hosted the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference held Wednesday, October 21 2026, in Abuja, FCT.
Inuwa emphasised that Nigerians’ ability to learn continuously, solve complex problems, and adapt to technological change would increasingly determine success in the future workplace.
Recalling his personal experience, the NITDA Chief Executive, a proud alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, explained how digital skills training helped to shape his professional journey by opening opportunities that enabled him to transition from Web site development to network engineering.
The Director-General of the IT sector regulatory agency also said the experience demonstrated that technology education should go beyond theoretical knowledge and examinations, to develop competencies that learners could apply in real-life situations.
He urged instructors to prioritise hands-on training, critical thinking, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership.
According to him, these transferable skills would help young Nigerians to remain competitive as technology continues to transform industries across the global world.
Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, Inuwa revealed that technological advancement was projected to create 170 million jobs globally by 2030 while displacing approximately 92 million existing roles.
The figures, he noted, underscored the urgent need for Nigerians to embrace lifelong learning, continuous upskilling and the effective use of emerging technologies to remain relevant in an increasingly digital economy.
Significance of digital literacy for national development, economic competitiveness
NITDA further emphasised that beyond preparing individuals for employment, Inuwa described digital literacy as a foundation for national development, economic competitiveness and inclusive growth.
According to him, digital competence has become as fundamental as reading, writing and numeracy.
The NITDA Chief Executive stressed that Nigeria’s ability to build a skilled workforce would influence its capacity to innovate, improve productivity, and compete globally.
He linked investment in digital skills and human capital to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030.
Inuwa emphasised that a technology-ready workforce would be central to achieving the target.
He equally highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to embed digital literacy in formal education through curriculum reforms, teacher training and partnerships with education stakeholders.
As part these efforts, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA had collaborated with Nasarawa State University, to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course at the University level.
The agency described this training initiative aimed at broadening students’ exposure to technology beyond specialised computing disciplines.
Commendation for Presidency
Highlighting a number of digital initiatives by the current administration, Inuwa lauded President Tinubu for prioritising human capital development, eulogising the Honourable Minister of Education for supporting initiatives designed to equip Nigerians with relevant digital competencies.
Inuwa further acknowledged Cisco Networking Academy’s contribution to developing digital skills in Nigeria, particularly through its partnerships with federal universities and other academic institutions.
He urged instructors to ensure that students graduate with the practical knowledge and problem-solving abilities required by employers, entrepreneurs and the wider economy.
Education Minister highlights digital literacy, technology-driven education initiatives
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education, who spoke at the conference, reinforced the Federal Government’s commitment to digital literacy and technology-driven education, describing digital skills development as critical to preparing Nigerian youths for the future of work.
Alausa advocated stronger collaboration among government agencies, Cisco, educational institutions and development partners to expand access to digital learning and strengthen the country’s human capital.
The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government had updated the national curriculum to introduce digital technology at the primary school level, with NITDA and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), supporting teacher training and the deployment of digital learning resources.
The Minister commended Inuwa for his contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
According to him, technology was reshaping education and virtually every sector of the economy.
Alausa as well urged Cisco Networking Academy to strengthen practical training and expand its collaboration with Colleges of Education, Federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates’ employability.
Effective partnerships between training institutions and employers will help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations, stated he.
The Minister further advocated practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications as essential components of digital skills programmes, while expressing confidence in Nigerian technology entrepreneurs and reiterating the Ministry’s commitment to adopting homegrown software solutions.
The Minister also welcomed proposals to integrate digital literacy into General Studies courses in tertiary institutions, a move that could expose students across different disciplines to essential technology skills.
Addressing the challenge of digital inclusion, Alausa called for deliberate efforts to extend learning opportunities to girls, persons with disabilities, rural communities and financially disadvantaged learners.
On NCC, Education Minister collaboration on zero-rated data access to educational content
Alausa revealed that the Ministry had collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide zero-rated data access to educational content, helping to reduce the cost barriers that often prevent learners from accessing digital resources.
The Minister said education, innovation and youth empowerment remained central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He, therefore, urged young participants to embrace continuous learning, practise consistently, and apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems.
Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, has highlighted the scale of Cisco Networking Academy’s contribution to digital education.
Saeed the arrangement reported that approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students had been reached since the programme began 1997.
Saeed said the programme had reached approximately 30 million students across 105 countries globally, with about 6.5 million active students in fiscal year 2026.
In Nigeria, figures presented at the conference indicated approximately 338,000 active students, 696 instructors and partnerships with 369 academic institutions.
The expert identified cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and software programming as essential areas of competence for young people seeking to succeed in the modern workforce.
On supporting digital infrastructure to access education, training
Saeed also underscored the importance of digital infrastructure, accessible education and industry-relevant training, noting that collaboration among government, educational institutions, international organisations and the private sector was vital to bridging the digital divide.
NITDA said the programme also highlighted efforts at increasing women’s participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates.