By Angeline Mgbele, Bureau Chief, Northern Nigeria
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi has emphasised the urgent need for integrating digital literacy and skills into Nigeria’s formal education system to better prepare citizens for the challenges they will face after graduation.
According to a press statement released by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at
NITDA, Hajia Hadiza Umar, Mallam Abdullahi made this statement during a Stakeholders Dialogue and High-Level Policy Committee meeting focused on the Review of Basic Education Curriculum organised by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) in Abuja.
The NITDA DG stated that one of NITDA’s primary mandates, as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was to ensure that Nigeria achieves 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with a midterm goal of reaching 70 per cent by 2027.
Abdullahi noted that this ambitious target could not be achieved by NITDA alone, and therefore, the agency was seeking partnerships to develop digital literacy and skills curricula within the formal education system.
“We cannot do it alone. But we believe, with you, we can do it. That is why we are exploring this partnership, to work with you, to build digital literacy and skills curricula in our formal education,” he added.
Abdulahi noted that what was once considered science fiction was now becoming reality, and the educational system must adapt to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
He further explained that President Tinubu has tasked the ministry with accelerating the diversification of Nigeria’s economy by enhancing productivity in critical sectors through technological innovation.
While stressing that building human capital was essential for achieving this goal, as knowledge was the foundation of a robust and sustainable economy, Abdullahi added that “at NITDA, our mandate is to develop IT, which is the cornerstone of meaningful development. A nation’s greatest resource is not its minerals, but its human capital, and we must be intentional about harnessing this resource.”
He also added that many professions will eventually be at risk of being overtaken by automation, which makes digital skills a necessity for future employability.
Emphasising the importance of equipping children with digital skills to maintain their cognitive abilities and foster responsible use of technology, the NITDA DG noted that “technology is a double-edged sword, while children are often distracted by social media, the right digital skills can help them use technology for self-development.”
Buttressing DG NITDA’s statement, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, noted that the world was rapidly advancing into the digital era and stressed that technology was reshaping various sectors, including agriculture and health, and that it was crucial for Nigeria to adapt.
“Technology is on the rise, and it’s either you join or get left behind. Our children’s education must provide a foundation that enables critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-protection,” the Minister of Education (State) said.
Dr. Sununu also highlighted the current administration’s commitment to addressing the nation’s educational challenges, including curriculum reform and pointed out that Nigeria was one of the countries most affected by the global learning crisis, with one in five out-of-school children worldwide being Nigerian, in addition to one in four Nigerian children suffering from poor literacy and critical thinking skills, which were significant barriers to national development.
The Education Minister (State) revealed that the administration’s Marshall Plan for Education for the Community of Hope, which outlined the roadmap for the education sector from 2024 to 2027, was a comprehensive and action-oriented plan aimed at overhauling the education system. This plan, he noted, prioritised curriculum review and renewal at all levels to ensure that education in Nigeria was functional and contributed to the nation’s overall development goals.
