The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has launched a ground-breaking Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s priority of accelerating diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, creative arts, manufacturing, and innovation.
The initiative has kicked off in twelve states: the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Jigawa, Yobe, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, Cross River, Bayelsa, Abia, and Ebonyi states.
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Goal to achieve 70% digital literacy
With the help of this project, the Agency hopes to equip every Nigerian citizen with the fundamental digital skills needed to succeed in today’s technologically advanced world and to attain 70% digital literacy for all Nigerians by 2027.
The initiative will allow citizens to take advantage of possibilities, support the advancement of their country, and ensure a better future.
Strategic cooperation with the NYSC is a crucial element of DL4ALL, as it seeks to utilise corps members’ nationwide enthusiasm and reach. These recent graduates, who will spend their service years serving as Champions in different parts of Nigeria, will train and raise awareness of digital skills in the communities they work with.
Importance of Corp members to bridge the digital gap
The program will begin national sensitisation and skill-building using the NYSC structure currently in place. Corps members will play a crucial role in providing digital literacy training to guarantee that the program reaches every part of the nation.
This distributed method guarantees that the benefits of digital literacy and its message are received even in the most remote locations.
Camp sensitisation talks are being held in these states to inform local communities and corps members about the objectives of the Digital Literacy for All Initiatives.
Through these initiatives, it is hoped that the information shared during the sensitisation camps will have a cascading effect on nearby communities and beyond.
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About NITDA
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) was established in April 2001 to coordinate national IT development and carry out the Nigerian Information Technology Policy.
Under the National Information Technology Development Act of 2007, a framework for the planning, development, implementation, standardisation, coordination, monitoring, assessment, and control of information technology practices, activities, and systems in Nigeria must be established.
Cultivating talent and promoting digital literacy are at the core of its strategic initiatives. Other areas of focus include strengthening the legal and policy environment and policy implementation capacities, fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating strategic alliances and cooperative efforts, encouraging a dynamic organisational culture and nimble workforce within NITDA, advancing equitable access to digital infrastructure and services, and boosting cybersecurity and digital trust.