Fifty selected young unemployed Nigerians have completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, gaining practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, was hosted at NITDAโs South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of Kashifu Inuwa, the director general of NITDA, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, the head of the South West Zonal Office, described the initiative as a vital component of Nigeriaโs digital future. โThis is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeysโanchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,โ she remarked.
According to the Director General, the initiative is rooted in NITDAโs Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and reflects key focus areas including Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment. It also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubuโs Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to accelerate economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills development.
Inuwa noted that the DL4ALL initiative forms part of Nigeriaโs broader commitment to digital inclusionโensuring that no one is left behind in the evolving digital economy.
It also supports the ambitious goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, championed by Dr. Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
This national vision aims to equip millions of Nigerians with the skills required to thrive in a tech-driven world.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. โThey are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,โ he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
โThis is only the beginning,โ he stated. โThrough our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeriaโs full digital potential.โ
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeriaโs digital economyโarmed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.

At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials. Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunitiesโnot only for themselves but also for othersโas entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.