The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have partnered strategically to provide 30 million Nigerians with digital skills, following a meeting on Friday in Abuja between the director general of the NYSC, Brig Gen Y.D. Ahmed and the director general of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made an announcement.

NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasised that the partnership with NYSC is a significant step towards achieving the agency’s strategic objectives. The collaboration aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which prioritises digital literacy and talent development through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative.

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The DL4AL Initiative aims to empower millions of Nigerians with digital skills, bridging the gap in the digital divide and promoting inclusive economic growth. By partnering with NYSC, NITDA can leverage the scheme’s vast network and resources to reach a large audience, especially youths eager to acquire digital skills.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, played a crucial role in facilitating the collaboration. Olawande strongly supported the partnership’s success, recognising the potential impact on Nigeria’s digital economy. With the minister’s backing, the partnership is positioned to make a single difference in the country’s digital landscapes.

Transforming the Nigerian Economy through Digital Skills

NITDAI stated that the training program will empower more Nigerians to participate in the digital economy and enhance their employability. The partnership seeks to train 30 million Nigerians, particularly the youth, in digital skills, enabling them to access essential digital services, engage in the digital economy, compete for jobs, and boost their employability prospects.

This programme is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” according to NITDA. This agenda aims to use digital literacy and foster a pool of tech talent to transform the economy and achieve sustainable, inclusive growth.

Nevertheless, neither the training’s start date nor the Nigerians’ participation style were disclosed in the statement. NITDA revealed that the NYSC Director-General plans to establish a Community Development Service (CDS) to support this initiative.

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NITDA Vision: Digitally literate Nigerians by 2030

The Nigerian government aims to ensure 90% of the population is Digitally literate by 2030 through various training programs, including the 3 million Technical SKILL (3MTT) programme, which aims to train 3 million Nigerians in digital skills over three years

In addition to the already planned agenda, NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) places digital literacy as the top priority among its eight pillars. The NITDA Director-General noted that the target of fostering digital literacy and cultivating talent will be achieved by implementing the National Digital Literacy Framework.

The partnership between NITDA and NYSC is a big step in the right direction towards giving Nigerians the digital skills they need to prosper in the contemporary economy and seize new chances for advancement.