The Federal Government has unveiled a plan to achieve 95% digital literacy among Nigerians by 2030, with a specific target of training and empowering at least 30 million citizens by 2027.

Kashifu Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), disclosed the initiative during the Grand Finale of the Tech4Dev Digital for All Challenge 2.0 in Abuja, where he was represented by Aristotle Onumo, NITDA’s Director of Stakeholder Management. Abdullahi emphasized that NITDA’s strategy for achieving these goals involves building key partnerships, particularly with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and educational institutions.

“The Digital for All Challenge 2.0 aligns with our mission to ensure that 95% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2030. By 2027, we aim to train 30 million Nigerians and provide them with the necessary digital skills for active participation in the economy,” Abdullahi said.

A core element of NITDA’s plan is its collaboration with the NYSC, which trains corps members as Digital Literacy Champions. These champions are deployed to teach digital skills in local communities. Abdullahi highlighted that, currently, there is a Digital Literacy Champion in every local government area, helping to make digital literacy accessible nationwide. NITDA also tracks training progress through its portal, providing real-time data on the number of Nigerians trained.

“We are making digital literacy accessible at the grassroots level. Our corps members play a pivotal role in reaching citizens across the country,” he said.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education, NITDA has integrated digital literacy into the national curriculum at all educational levels. Abdullahi noted that digital literacy has been added to primary, secondary, and tertiary education. At Nasarawa State University, students are certified in digital literacy by Cisco by the end of their first year.

To further strengthen the nation’s digital capacity, NITDA has made digital literacy a requirement for civil servants’ promotion exams. Abdullahi stressed that equipping government workers with digital skills is essential for improving efficiency and service delivery.

“By making digital literacy a requirement for promotion, we are enhancing the capacity of our civil service to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital world,” he said.

Abdullahi commended Tech4Dev for its collaboration in driving this initiative, describing the Digital for All Challenge as a “shared vision” aligned with the government’s goals.

Digital literacy is the new currency of the 21st century. With the right digital skills, we lay the foundation for innovation, job creation, and sustainable prosperity. This vision cannot be achieved by NITDA alone. Collaborations like this are crucial,” he added.

Abdullahi also congratulated the winners of the Tech4Dev Digital for All Challenge, urging them to view the competition as a platform for empowerment and nation-building.

“This is not just a competition; it’s an opportunity for transformation. The innovators we celebrate today are shaping Nigeria’s future through their digital skills,” Abdullahi remarked.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing digital literacy as part of efforts to promote job creation and national development.

“The importance of digital literacy in job creation and national development cannot be overstated. I encourage more young people to actively engage in these initiatives,” she said.

Idongesit Udoh, UK International Development Digital Access Programme Adviser, praised the Digital for All Challenge as a “significant” project that has expanded access to digital skills nationwide.

“Digital skills, connectivity, and trust are the cornerstones of a modern digital economy. This initiative has made tremendous progress in advancing all three,” Udoh said. He also highlighted the competition’s role in creating opportunities for youth, civil servants, and other sectors.

Oladiwura Oladepo, Co-founder of Tech4Dev, emphasized the impact of the Digital for All Challenge, particularly the second edition, which aimed to deepen digital literacy and empower a broad spectrum of Nigerians.

“We’ve impacted individuals from all age groups and backgrounds, helping them unlock new opportunities in the digital world,” Oladepo said.

The competition attracted participants from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, with the winners receiving significant cash prizes. Miracle Michael emerged as the overall winner, receiving ₦15 million, followed by Chinedu Arisa with ₦12.5 million, Ismail Adam with ₦10 million, and Uluchi Chibueze with ₦7.5 million.

This initiative marks a significant step toward equipping Nigerians with the digital skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world, as the country moves closer to its ambitious target of a digitally literate population by 2030.

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