The agreement was formalised at the Middle East & Africa (MEA) Cisco International Systems (CIS) Annual Partners Conference, held at the Le Royal Méridien Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 13th to 15th January 2026.

The partnership agreement was executed by Gbande-Hembaor Terwase, the group managing director/chief executive officer of BDIC and president/CEO of AfDIC, marking a significant milestone in Benue State’s commitment to developing a digitally skilled, globally competitive, and future-ready workforce.

This landmark collaboration is a direct outcome of the bold and intentional digital transformation agenda of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, executive governor of Benue State, who has consistently prioritised digital skills development as a key driver of economic growth, youth empowerment, and public sector reform.

Within the first year of his administration, the Benue State Government launched an ambitious programme to train 10,000 youths in digital and technology-enabled skills, alongside the ongoing digital literacy and e-governance training of over 40,000 civil servants, aimed at modernising public service delivery, improving efficiency, and strengthening transparency across government institutions.

The partnership with Cisco Networking Academy provides global validation and strategic reinforcement of the state government’s sustained investments in digital human capital development.

It introduces an internationally recognised framework to scale, standardise, and internationalise Benue State’s digital skills initiatives, ensuring alignment with global industry standards and labour market demands.

Under the agreement, 23,000 Benue youths will be trained biannually using Cisco’s globally accredited curricula in networking, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and emerging technologies.

Participants will earn internationally recognised certifications that significantly enhance employability, support remote work readiness, and open access to global job opportunities.

Cisco Networking Academy is one of the world’s largest and most respected digital skills and workforce development platforms, operating in over 190 countries and having trained tens of millions of learners worldwide.

Its certifications in networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and IT essentials are widely recognised by global employers, governments, and academic institutions as benchmarks for industry-ready skills.

Beyond youth empowerment, the partnership will also strengthen government capacity by supporting continuous digital upskilling of civil servants, accelerating Benue State’s transition to e-governance, data-driven decision-making, and digitally enabled service delivery.

Access to Cisco’s world-class learning platforms, instructor development programmes, and industry-relevant certifications positions Benue State as a leading subnational government in digital human capital development in Nigeria and across Africa.

The signing of the agreement at the MEA CIS Annual Conference in Dubai further underscores Benue State’s growing international profile and credibility in digital infrastructure, skills development, and governance innovation.

It reflects the state government’s deliberate strategy to leverage global technology partnerships to drive inclusive growth, reduce unemployment, and prepare its workforce for the future of work.

With this milestone, Benue State has firmly consolidated its digital transformation agenda, translating policy vision into structured, scalable, and globally competitive outcomes.

The Cisco Networking Academy partnership stands as a strong testament to the commitment of the Benue State Government, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to building a resilient digital economy and positioning Benue State at the forefront of Nigeria’s and Africa’s digital revolution.

The post BDIC, Cisco Partner to Train and Certify 23,000 Benue Youth in Digital Skills appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

As part of effort to achieve a mandate of 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 and powering the economic resilience of Nigeria through effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) with the Computer Information System Company (Cisco) aimed at promoting digital transformation as well as bridging the digital skills gap in the country.

The agreement which was signed at the Cisco Networking Academy for Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) Partner Conference in Paris was sanctioned by Kashifu Inuwa, the NITDA Director General, and the Vice President of Cisco Middle East & Africa, Reem Asaad in the presence of other industry stakeholders in the world.

In strengthening the Agency’s efforts in bridging the digital skills gap in the country, the MOU signed between the two organisations is expected to support the nation’s digital transformation agenda and contribute to digital skills training and development.

The Cisco Networking Academy is an IT skill-to-jobs program that ensures collaboration between public-private partnerships in offering digital skills training through high-quality curriculum and inclusive workforce development programmes.

The signed MOU forms part of Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program, which will ensure that the Cisco Networking Academy program is promoted and expanded to benefit the country and its citizenry.

The strategic collaboration between the two organisations would ensure sustainability to other elements of national digital agenda and create exceptional value for the country, its industries and its citizens.

Inuwa, who was represented by the Agency’s Acting Director, Digital Literacy and Capacity Development Department, Dr. Amina Sambo, said that “by collaborating with industry leaders like Cisco, we can empower and equip Nigerians with the knowledge and resources they need to participate in the national and global digital economies”.

In addition to the various infrastructural and innovative initiatives deployed by NITDA in the country, the MOU would ensure that Cisco deploys initiatives that will enable entrepreneurs in the country to gain new skills, innovate and build customer connections.

The Cisco Incubation and Innovation Centre known as the Cisco Earn, Design, Go to Market, Earn (EDGE) will be used to stimulate innovation and support digitization initiatives thereby providing a space where entrepreneurs in the country can showcase technologies.

It will further provide resources and tools to indigenous innovators and entrepreneurs in the country to help them develop more secure, intelligent and connected solutions.

Expressing her excitement at working with NITDA in accelerating digitisation in Nigeria, Reem asserted that Cisco has a responsibility to its customers and the global community to help them solve challenges impacting lives.

Cisco Networking Academy is a powerful force for change. This initiative will unlock equitable opportunities for education and career connections to diverse communities. The focus on networking and cyber security will place learners at the forefront of innovation, equipping them with in-demand skills to develop ideas that will power the future”,

– Reem said

The highlight of the programme was the conferment of the prestigious Cisco Golden Bridge Award on NITDA in recognition of the extraordinary contributions of the Director General, Kashifu Inuwa.

The post NITDA signs MoU with Cisco to Promote Digital Transformation, Literacy appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.