The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has honored outstanding corps members serving as Digital Literacy Champions, awarding them ₦3.5 million in cash and eight high-performance laptops.
The awards were presented by the NITDA Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa, during a strategic visit to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Headquarters in Abuja. Received by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, the event marked a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s push to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027.
Central to the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative is the deployment of corps members as frontline educators. NITDA announced plans to recruit and train 80 corps members per state, including the FCT, to serve as Digital Literacy Champions.
These champions are tasked with conducting daily literacy sessions in high-traffic public spaces, including local markets and motor parks, religious centers and community hubs and senior citizens’ centers.
“Digital literacy is the backbone of national development and economic growth,” stated Malam Abdullahi. “By training corps members to educate their communities, we are not only promoting digital inclusion but also enhancing the employability and entrepreneurial potential of our youth.”
The ceremony featured the presentation of a ₦3.5 million dummy cheque and laptops to eight distinguished corps members who exceeded expectations in their advocacy roles. NITDA also extended recognition to key partners, including the Mind the Gap Foundation, Tripod Professional Services Limited, and the NYSC Community Development Service Unit, for their contributions to the framework’s success.
With over 650,000 graduates entering the NYSC scheme annually, Brigadier General Nafiu described the partnership as a vital platform for tackling unemployment. He emphasized that equipping such a large volume of graduates with digital competencies will turn them into permanent ambassadors for Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“This collaboration ensures we produce self-reliant and employable graduates,” General Nafiu remarked. “Improving digital literacy among our corps members is a direct path to increasing productivity and participation in the global digital economy.”
The initiative continues to leverage NITDA’s online learning platforms, ensuring that both the trainers and the communities they serve have access to world-class digital content and innovation tools.