Inuwa made this known while receiving representatives from the Afre.lib Academy led by the Executive Director of Operation Mrs Joice Gomina who were on a visit to the Agency’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

The purpose of the visit was to seek NITDA’s partnership as co-host of Afre.lib Academy’s bootcamps in August; 2024 Tech and Career Expo with the theme “Tech for Earth” in September; to have the DG as a Keynote Speaker and sponsorship support for their Tech Challenge Winners.

He said from the digital literacy perspective “We have three key areas, firstly, is the Formal Education where we are working with the minister of education to review curriculum and infuse all these skills in formal education, but we have a lot to do to achieve that in terms of training the teachers, getting the equipment available for them to use and so on.”

“Secondly, for those outside the formal education (informal), we have an initiative which we call the Digital Literacy for All where we are working on building an Edtech platform (a learning Management System) where people can learn at their own pace. We are looking at translating it to Nigerian Languages, so that people who cannot read and understand English can do so in their own local languages.”

“We are exploring partnering with the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) as they are in 774 local government areas, to be onboarding people and making the content as simple as possible. So that anybody who listens or watches these contents can pick something from it. We believe going through the NYSC will help use reach the critical mass we are looking at.”

“Finally, we also have the formal workforce, which is to train people working for the government and private sector because the workforce needs to be digitally literate to increase productivity at work.

Inuwa assured the Academy of the Agency’s full support as both organisation share the same vison of fostering IT development and digital literacy.

• “We need to review your curriculum to make sure it aligns with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).”

He added that NITDA is working to have at least one Innovation Hub per state so that when people learn they can have a place to develop there proof of concept

He stated that both organisations can work together in the aspect of having tech clubs across schools in the country.

The ED Afre.lib Mrs Gomina said that the Academy’s which is a made up of a team of experts’ passionate educators has seen the gap between young children who are digital natives and their teachers who are still using old methods to prepare them for a future that is constantly evolving.

She said the Academy is working on building a platform where these children will be mentored and given a safe space to explore technology within the ethics of morality.

“We want to reduce that entitlement mentality and increase that mentality of citizenship, responsibility, and showing them that they can contribute to nation building using technology,” she said

She mentioned that some of the activities of the Academy includes, bootcamps for children, summer tech challenges teacher training as she appreciated the Agency for its willingness to support and partner with the Academy.

The Academy did a demo of some of the prototype developed by children who have undergone trainings with them.

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NBTE had recently unbundled the programmes into four distinct specialisations:

1. Artificial Intelligence,
2. Network & Cloud Computing,
3. Software & Web Development, and
4. Cybersecurity & Data Protection.

In a statement on Sunday, signed by Hadiza Umar (Mrs), head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, the DG said the visionary move is not just a game-changer in Nigeria’s IT sector; it represents a seismic shift in equipping Nigerian graduates with in-demand skills crucial for navigating the digital revolution.

“This development positions polytechnics at the centre of nurturing young Nigerians capable of tackling specific challenges and capitalising on the vast opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

“Moreover, NITDA views this as a significant step in promoting the growth of the IT sector and enhancing the capabilities of the nation’s workforce. It bridges skills gaps identified during our IT Skills Gap Assessment, conducted in partnership with CC Hub, which highlighted 12 IT skills in high demand both in Nigeria and globally.

“NITDA recognises the immense potential of Artificial Intelligence, Network and Cloud Computing, Software and Web Development, as well as Cybersecurity and Data Protection in shaping the future of Nigeria’s IT sector. This is why it established the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), as special purpose vehicles to nurture talent and equip interns and NYSC members with the requisite skills to excel in their digital journey.

Inuwa also emphasises the need for collaboration between educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and regulatory bodies to ensure the successful implementation of these specialised fields.

“NITDA extends its gratitude to the National Board for Technical Education for its vision and commitment to advancing technical education in Nigeria.

“”It encourages a paradigm shift in educational approaches, urging institutions to proactively incorporate elements of digital literacy into their curriculum structures.

“The Agency believes that embracing the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) would serve as a transformative step towards ensuring that the Nigerian educational system remains at the forefront of technological innovation and equips students with the competencies needed for success in the modern world.

“NITDA looks forward to continued collaboration to create an environment where Nigerian IT professionals can thrive and make significant contributions to the global digital economy”, the DG said.

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