The Federal Government has taken a significant step towards enhancing the digital capabilities of its workforce by launching a comprehensive digital literacy training program for federal civil servants.
This initiative, a joint venture between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, aims to equip government employees with the essential skills to navigate the digital world effectively.
“Digital transformation is fundamentally about people,” emphasized Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of NITDA, at the launch of a three-day workshop in Abuja. “Technology alone cannot drive meaningful change without the active participation of individuals.”
Recognizing the critical role of a digitally proficient workforce in driving economic growth and development, the program aims to improve the productivity and efficiency of civil servants by empowering them to effectively utilize digital tools and technologies.
To achieve the ambitious goal of 70% digital literacy by 2027, NITDA has launched the “Digital Literacy for All” (DL4ALL) initiative. This program focuses on:
• Curriculum Development: Collaborating with the Ministry of Education to develop and implement digital literacy skills curricula in all tertiary institutions.
• Youth Engagement: Partnering with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to recruit 80 digital literacy champions in each stream, aiming to train over 10 million Nigerians annually.
• Workforce Readiness: Addressing the increasing demand for digital skills in the workforce, with projections indicating that 35-45% of Nigerian jobs will require digital competency by 2030.
Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Permanent Secretary of the Career Management Office and representative of the Head of Service of the Federation, emphasized the importance of transforming the civil service into a dynamic and globally competitive workforce. She highlighted that this initiative is a cornerstone of the Federal Service Commission’s strategy to create a digitally literate civil service.
The workshop serves as a crucial step in this transformative journey, providing civil servants with the necessary tools and knowledge to deliver their mandates more effectively and drive meaningful change in the country. The collaboration between the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and NITDA exemplifies the importance of inter-agency cooperation in harnessing the power of digital technology to improve public service delivery.