Empowering Nigeria’s Future: The Digital Literacy for All Initiative

Empowering Nigeria’s Future: The Digital Literacy for All Initiative

“The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many.” – John Naisbitt.

By Ernest Ogezi

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and GetBundi Education Technology, has launched the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative. This ambitious project aims to equip a significant portion of Nigeria’s population with foundational digital literacy skills, propelling the nation towards achieving a 70% digital literacy rate by 2027. By focusing on six core competency areas—Devices and Software Operation, Information & Data Literacy, Communication and Collaboration, Digital Content Creation, Safety, and Problem Solving—DL4ALL seeks to provide Nigerians with the necessary tools to thrive in a digital world.

DL4ALL takes into cognizance the urgency of equipping individuals with skills to access and utilize online resources for education, employment, and government services safely. This initiative also aims to protect users from cyber threats and misinformation, enabling them to communicate and collaborate effectively using digital tools. The overarching goal is to develop the digital fluency required for many in-demand jobs. The initiative employs a multi-stakeholder approach, leveraging the expertise and reach of various actors across Nigeria. A key component is the partnership with NYSC to train corps members as Digital Literacy Champions. These champions will undergo comprehensive training to enhance their teaching skills, enabling them to disseminate digital literacy knowledge to their peers and communities. Additionally, members of the creative industry will receive specialized training in digital marketing, video editing, and graphics, further broadening the initiative’s impact.

GetBundi Education Technology plays a pivotal role in DL4ALL’s success. They have developed a digital literacy framework for Africa, which NITDA has adopted. This collaboration includes creating learning videos and infographics in English, Pidgin English, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo by the end of 2024. The initial phase, however, will be conducted in English. The training will be delivered in three life skills areas: video editing, content creation, and digital marketing. These skills will be imparted to Digital Literacy Ambassadors (DLAs) during their service year. The partnership with Mind the Gap ensures a cost-effective implementation, utilizing existing structures rather than creating new ones.

The DL4ALL initiative is crucial for achieving NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0 (SRAP 2.0), which aims to nurture an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in line with President Tinubu’s administration’s priority of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth. This alignment underscores the initiative’s significance in driving Nigeria’s socio-economic development and global competitiveness. The pilot phase, starting in 12 states, will train 360 DLAs, reaching over 302,400 end beneficiaries by the end of 2024. The full program envisions training 21,000 corps members over three years, impacting 30 million Nigerians. This extensive reach will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s digital transformation, enhancing ICT’s contribution to the GDP and fostering a dynamic ecosystem that propels economic growth.

DL4ALL is a transformative initiative designed to empower Nigerians with essential digital skills, driving the nation towards a more inclusive and prosperous future. Through strategic partnerships and innovative training methods, NITDA and its collaborators are laying the foundation for a digitally literate Nigeria, poised to compete on the global stage. This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of digital literacy in today’s technology-driven world.