The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared its strong commitment to achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030, a core goal embedded in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. This initiative was emphasized during the inaugural meeting of the National Digital Literacy Technical Working Group (NDL-TWG), held at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) headquarters in Abuja. Mr. David Daser, Chair of the working group and President of DBI, highlighted the critical role digital literacy plays in empowering citizens and driving national development.
Daser praised the leadership of key stakeholders including the Minister of Communications, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, and NITDA Director General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa. He emphasized that digital literacy is not just about access to technology, but about creating opportunities for job creation, social inclusion, and improved governance. Daser warned that without comprehensive national action, Nigeria risks being left behind in the rapidly digitizing global economy.
The DBI president acknowledged past efforts to improve digital skills across the country but criticized their fragmented nature and the lack of unified strategy. To solve this, the government, through NITDA, launched the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, with the NDL-TWG serving as a coordinated framework to drive implementation. The goal is to standardize, harmonize, and scale digital literacy programs across all sectors and regions.
Daser underlined the importance of collecting consistent data, bridging infrastructure gaps, and aligning stakeholders under a single, strategic vision. He stressed that the digital literacy target is not just aspirational, but a “declaration of intent” to ensure all Nigerians—regardless of background—can access digital opportunities and thrive in a technology-driven world. Achieving this would position Nigeria for long-term economic growth and competitive advantage on the global stage.
Supporting the initiative, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, reaffirmed NBTE’s commitment. He cited how the board has already integrated digital technology into its accreditation processes, improving efficiency and reducing corruption. Bugaje added that all Nigerian polytechnics are being connected to a centralized digital database, further supporting the government’s larger digital transformation agenda.
Source: The Nation