By Yaji, S. Solomon
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched a capacity-building programme for civil servants as part of efforts to drive nationwide digital literacy in line with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
The event, held at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s agenda to modernise the civil service and build a digitally skilled workforce.
It could be recalled that Nigeria has set ambitious target of achieving 60 percent digital literacy by the end of 2025, 70 percent by 2027, and 95 percent by 2030. To meet these goals, NITDA introduced the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, which focuses on integrating digital skills into school curricula, training the current workforce through a Cisco-powered free online programme, and extending digital knowledge to the informal sector in partnership with the NYSC.
So far, more than 300,000 Nigerians have benefitted from the initiative. A tracking dashboard monitors progress across states and demographics, while weekly webinars and incentives are used to keep learners engaged.
Speaking during the programme, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, said the training programme for civil servants is designed to raise digital literacy in the federal workforce from 30 percent to 100 percent by the end of 2025.
She explained that all civil servants are required to complete the Cisco-backed online course within two months, with progress tracked through a competitive dashboard to ensure accountability across ministries.
On his part, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, represented by Dr. Ahmad Tambuwal, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to advancing digital literacy through the NDLF, which was unveiled in July 2023.
He emphasised that the framework provides a unified definition of digital literacy in Nigeria, adapted from the European Digital Competence Framework (DIGCOMP) but modified to suit Nigerian and African realities.
“One major distinction in Nigeria’s framework is the focus on smartphones rather than computers, as most Nigerians access the internet via mobile phones. Even in this room today, very few people have computers, but everybody has a smartphone,” he noted.
He further explained that the initiative aims to equip Nigerians with the ability to use modern tools, adapt to emerging technologies, and strengthen cybersecurity awareness.
During the technical session, 43 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service each nominated two champions to represent them. These champions were trained on how to navigate the DISCO learning platform, access course content, and create online classes for their staff. They were also granted administrative privileges to provide direct support, ensuring the effective rollout of digital literacy training across MDAs.
