NITDA launches DL4ALL in Minna, targets 70% digital literacy by 2027

In line with its vision to equip at least 70 per cent of Nigerians with digital literacy skills by 2027, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at the weekend launched the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative in Minna, Niger State.

At the launch, which attracted mostly youths and players in the tech industry, the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Kashimu Inuwa Abdullahi, emphasised the importance of digital literacy in the rapidly evolving digital age.

He explained that NITDA’s DL4ALL initiative aims at training a critical mass of Nigerians in foundational digital literacy skills to equip them with the necessary tools to access and utilise online resources for education, employment, and financial services safely; protect themselves online from cyber threats and misinformation; communicate and collaborate effectively using digital tools; and develop the digital fluency required for many in-demand jobs.

He also said the initiative seeks to deliver six core competency areas – Devices and Software Operation, Information & Data Literacy, Communication and Collaboration, Digital Content Creation, Safety and Problem Solving – that will provide a foundational understanding of essential digital literacy required in today’s technology-driven world.

The NITDA DG noted that the DL4ALL initiative comes as a response to President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the agency to to develop an actionable initiative that will help to equip Nigerians with digital literacy skills.

He said the programme, which covers 12 states in the pilot phase, will provide Nigerians—regardless of age or social status—with essential skills in Information and Data Literacy, content creation, and online safety.

He further explained that the agency would leverage the numerical strength of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to help implement the programme across the 774 local government areas of the country.

“Every year, over ten million Nigerians will be trained by the National Information Technology Development Agency through the collaboration with the National Youths Service Corps as well as the Ministry of Youths Development to enhance their digital skills such as content creation, data gathering and online marketing to sustain the economy of Nigerian youth,” he said.

Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed, said the digital literacy programme is key to unlocking opportunities and making Nigerians embrace modern information communication technology for economic development and facilitate their mode businesses through the digital world.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, said the state plans to use digital literacy initiatives to reach out to out-of-school children and train them on various information technology and the state is ready to partner with the federal government in achieving the needed objectives.

“Niger State being the pilot state to host the initiative of the federal government is an indication that the state is at the forefront of making its people digitally inclined and am ready to provide every enabling environment for the program to thrive,” he said.

In their separate remarks, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawale, and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Faruk Yabo, pledged their commitment to the success of the initiative.

NITDA had earlier said that its partnership with NYSC on the DL4ALL initiative will see Corps Members undergo a comprehensive two-week digital literacy training programme and, thereafter, a 10-week online training in either Graphics, Video Editing, or Digital Marketing on the GetBundi Education Technology platform. It said the training will equip them with valuable skills for their professional development and make them employable as well enlisted in the digital job portal. They will also be onboarded as Digital Literacy Champions and become NITDA ambassadors, training and sharing their knowledge with peers, community, family, and friends.

NITDA is also partnering with GetBundi Education Technology, an edtech platform that is poised to equip Africans with digital skills relevant for the 21st-century digital economy. The edtech company has already created learning videos and infographics in the six competency areas of the DL4ALL in strict adherence to NITDA’s digital literacy framework.

Speaking earlier ahead of the launch, the Founder of GetBundi Education Technology, Osita Oparaugo, described digital literacy as the cornerstone of successful digital transformation in governance and society.

“Without digital literacy, the true potential of digital transformation remains untapped, leaving individuals and communities at a disadvantage,” Oparaugo said.

“To Nigerian youths, NYSC members, creative industry professionals, and individuals in the 12 selected states for the pilot phase, this is your chance to engage in knowledge exchange and skill enhancement. I have seen first hand the passion of the director general of NITDA in seeing that this programme succeeds, and that Nigerians are empowered to thrive in this digital era. Let’s work together towards fostering a brighter digital future for all,” he said.