NITDA Announces Initiative to Train 50 Million Nigerians in Digital Literacy

The National Information Technology Development Agency ( NITDA) is planning to train 50 million people before 2027 in what could be one of the largest digital literacy drives launched by Nigeria. According to the agency, such a programme would contribute to strengthening the country’s digital economy and fostering a more competitive workforce.

The announcement was made during the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition in Abuja. The event, which focused on innovation and long-term digital growth, offered a platform for the agency to outline the scale of the project. According to the Director-General of NITDA, the country’s literacy rate currently stands at 50 per cent and is expected to climb to 70 per cent in the next three years.

He mentioned that the initiative cuts across education, the public sector, and the informal economy. A new curriculum, as approved by the President, is already in motion. Across the country, teachers are getting prepared to provide this digital training from early schooling right through to higher institutions.

Over 30,000 civil servants are already taking advantage of the digital literacy platform provided by NITDA. A number of state governments have also leveraged this framework to enhance their employees’ digital capacity.

A Comprehensive Digital Literacy Plan

NITDA is expanding access in the informal sector through a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps to place a digital champion in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. According to the model, each champion is expected to train 600 people yearly. This model is expected to reach more than 10 million Nigerians every year.

The education sector will train 15 million students, while an additional 5 million people will be reached across various workplaces. Combined with community-based learning, the agency believes the approach will ensure a broad, inclusive digital workforce.

In his address, the Director-General also reiterated the need to invest more in digital infrastructure, drawing parallels with the requirement felt for roads, rail, and airports, underlining that digital capability now plays a central role in driving economic growth in modern service-based economies. “Digital capacity is critical to national growth and competitiveness,” he declared.