The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Workforce Programme.
According to the agency, 75% of the Federal Civil Service workforce has successfully been trained, equipping them with essential 21st-century skills.
In collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the initiative has transformed how civil servants interact with technology, moving the needle closer to the Federal Government’s goal of 70% national digital literacy by 2027.
The program’s final report for 2025 highlights impressive engagement across four foundational modules: They are digital awareness, using computers and mobile devices, digital content creation & collaboration and digital safety and security
The DL4ALL Workforce Programme recorded total enrolments ranging from 45,813 to 54,377 learners per course. This reach represents an estimated 65% to 75% coverage of the total Federal Civil Service workforce. Completion rates for the modules fell between 38.1% and 44.6%, a performance that surpasses global benchmarks for voluntary online learning initiatives. While the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence led in terms of sheer volume, several smaller MDAs emerged as top performers in efficiency, achieving completion rates exceeding 70%.
The data reveal a fascinating trend: the size of a Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) was less important than the quality of institutional leadership. While large ministries had the highest raw numbers, smaller MDAs saw completion rates soar above 70%. This success is attributed to strong ICT leadership, the deployment of dedicated Digital Literacy Champions and consistent performance monitoring.
NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, highlighted the strategic partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy, which provided high-quality training with minimal financial barriers.
“This foundational phase creates a clear progression pathway. Starting in 2026, civil servants will transition into advanced specializations such as Cybersecurity, Data Fundamentals, Programming, and AI,” he said.
With the foundation firmly laid, NITDA has outlined four strategic priorities for the next phase of the DL4ALL initiative:
- Moving from basic literacy to job-specific digital competencies.
- Scaling the Digital Literacy Champion framework across all MDAs.
- Utilizing a national DL4ALL digital dashboard for real-time monitoring.
- Supporting civil servants in obtaining globally recognized professional certifications.