The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to achieving 95% digital literacy across Nigeria by 2030, with an interim milestone of 70% by 2027.
Speaking during a collaborative meeting hosted by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Inuwa underscored that this goal aligns with the administration’s priority of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth, with an emphasis on industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation.
“We started this journey in 2023 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came on board and made it clear that economic diversification and inclusivity are part of the administration’s agenda,” Inuwa said. “The president outlined this in eight priority areas, with priority number seven specifically focused on accelerating industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation.”
Recognising digital fluency as essential to achieving this agenda, Inuwa highlighted NITDA’s investment in developing the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), a strategic blueprint aligned with international best practices. To tailor the framework to Nigeria’s needs, six core competency areas have been defined: device and software operations, information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, content creation, safety, and problem-solving.
He explained that the framework would address all levels of digital fluency—from basic to advanced—to make digital skills accessible to all Nigerians, from primary school pupils to working professionals.
Despite data limitations, Inuwa noted that Nigeria’s digital literacy rate is currently estimated at 50%, up from 44% in 2021, based on extrapolations from the World Bank’s Better Life Report.
He further disclosed that NITDA has been working closely with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to develop a digital literacy curriculum for integration into formal education. The meeting with UBEC forms part of NITDA’s ongoing engagements with key education stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and NERDC, all aimed at advancing digital literacy across all levels of learning.
Inuwa also highlighted ongoing collaborations with global platforms such as Coursera to train teachers using AI-powered lesson generation tools and to provide scalable online training. He cited last year’s partnership with Nasarawa State University and CISCO on the Digital Learning for NSUK (DL4NSUK) initiative as an example of efforts to enhance digital literacy in tertiary institutions and equip graduates with globally competitive digital skills.
Stressing the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, Inuwa said:
“This is not a journey we can walk alone; we must bring everyone on board—education stakeholders, technology providers, state governments, and international partners.”
In response, UBEC Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, confirmed that the Commission has officially received the digital literacy curriculum developed by NITDA and NERDC and has begun internal review processes.
She described the curriculum as robust and forward-looking but stressed the need for simplification to suit early learners and teachers, noting challenges such as curriculum overload, limited teacher capacity, and inadequate infrastructure as barriers to effective implementation.
“We’re committed to working with NITDA and NERDC to refine the curriculum, train teachers, and ensure effective delivery. Let us align the technical vision with grassroots realities to make a lasting impact,” she said.
To formalise the meeting’s resolutions, a joint inter-agency committee has been established to develop strategic plans for the effective rollout of the digital literacy initiative, aiming to equip young Nigerians with the essential digital skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.
