NITDA receives Coursera Global Impact Award for advancing digital skills in Nigeria

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has received the prestigious Coursera Global Impact Award for its efforts in making a transformative impact in Nigeria through education.

Coursera, a leading global online learning platform, provides access to courses and degrees from top universities and companies worldwide, empowering people to acquire new skills.

The award ceremony took place during the 12th annual Coursera Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, where innovative organizations from around the world were celebrated for their contributions to education and the future of learning

Other winners are iPeople; Larsen & Toubro and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy (AI Innovation Award joint winners); Prince Sultan University (Engagement Excellence Award); Goeasy (Talent Transformation Award); and Dr. Kelvin Bentley of the University of Texas System (Learning Hero Award).

NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, expressed gratitude to the organizers and emphasized the commitment of the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to strengthen the economy through technology and innovation.

“Our vision prioritizes ICT as a fundamental component across all sectors, promoting sustainable growth and development in the country,” Inuwa said after receiving the laurel at the event.

“We are also focusing on internal transformation at NITDA, fostering a vibrant organizational culture and advancing our workforce in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and knowledge management.”

As part of its vision, NITDA launched the ‘1 Million Developers and Skills Initiative’ to boost digital skills and position Nigeria as a potential global talent exporter. The programme commenced in September 2022, initially providing 4,000 licenses to learners.

The agency’s latest recognition is a testament to the success of its initiative. Within two years, 8,000 individuals were trained in nearly 60,000 courses, totalling more than 200,000 learning hours on the Coursera platform.

The strategic partnership, according to Tech Digest, “addresses immediate skill gaps, lays the groundwork for digital transformation, and significantly enhances the skills, employability and productivity of the trainees.”