By Stella Odueme
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has identified digital literacy and practical technology skills as critical to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Inuwa said equipping young Nigerians with relevant digital competencies would boost innovation, improve productivity and prepare the workforce for emerging opportunities in the artificial intelligence-driven economy.
He spoke at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja, where he urged educators to focus on practical training rather than examination-centred teaching.
According to him, in a statement by the Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, on Friday, students must develop critical thinking, problem-solving, systems analysis and adaptability to succeed in a workplace increasingly shaped by technological advancement.
Citing the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, Inuwa said technological changes were projected to create 170 million jobs globally by 2030, even as about 92 million existing jobs could be displaced.
He stressed that continuous learning and upskilling would be essential for Nigerians to remain competitive and benefit from the changing employment landscape.
The NITDA boss, an alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, explained that practical digital training had helped shape his career, enabling him to move from website development to network engineering.
He urged instructors to replicate such opportunities by ensuring that students acquire practical knowledge that can be applied to real-life situations.
Inuwa described digital literacy as a fundamental skill, comparable to reading, writing and numeracy, noting that it was increasingly necessary for economic development and global competitiveness.
He disclosed that NITDA had partnered with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course, providing students across different disciplines with opportunities to develop technology skills.
He also highlighted government initiatives to integrate digital education into school curricula and strengthen teachers' capacity to deliver technology-based instruction.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who also spoke at the conference, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to expanding digital learning and preparing young Nigerians for the future of work.
Alausa said the national curriculum had been updated to introduce digital technology at the primary school level, with NITDA and the Universal Basic Education Commission supporting teacher training and access to learning resources.
He called for expanded collaboration with Cisco Networking Academy to provide practical training in colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges.
The minister said practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications should form part of digital skills programmes to improve graduates' employability and align education with industry needs.
He also called for inclusive digital learning opportunities for girls, persons with disabilities, rural communities and economically disadvantaged students.
Alausa disclosed that the ministry had collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission to provide zero-rated data access to educational content to ease the cost of digital learning.
Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, said Cisco Networking Academy had reached approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students since its establishment in 1997.
He said the programme had reached about 30 million students in 105 countries globally, with around 6.5 million active students in fiscal year 2026.
In Nigeria, the initiative has approximately 338,000 active students, 696 instructors and partnerships with 369 academic institutions, according to figures presented at the conference.
Saeed identified cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and software programming as essential skills for young people seeking employment in the modern digital economy.
He emphasised that stronger partnerships among government, educational institutions and the private sector would be necessary to expand digital skills training, bridge the digital divide and improve employment opportunities for graduates.