When Kashifu Inuwa, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), welcomed the leadership of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to NITDA’s corporate headquarters, it wasn’t just another high-level meeting, it was the next chapter in a growing alliance to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the digital age.

With over 6.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country due to conflict, insurgency, and natural disasters, and thousands more living as refugees abroad, Nigeria faces a humanitarian crisis that calls for more than shelter. It calls for opportunity, empowerment, and digital inclusion.

A Renewed Alliance for Digital Empowerment

DG Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to extending inclusive digital transformation to Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations. Building on past collaboration with NCFRMI, including staff training and ICT support, he announced a revitalized strategy aimed at bringing customized digital literacy programs to resettlement cities and IDP camps nationwide.

“We are scaling up this collaboration, not just with new IT equipment, but with community-focused digital literacy interventions that meet displaced persons where they are,” said Inuwa.

The initiative forms a key part of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027), which targets 70% digital literacy by 2027, in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

From Displacement to Digital Skills: A Model for Sustainable Resettlement

NITDA’s action plan includes:

• Deploying NYSC members to lead ICT training in camps and communities
• Creating digital learning centers with shared smart devices
• Installing tailored ICT infrastructure to support local needs
• Partnering with international tech organisations to establish innovation hubs in IDP camps across the Federal Capital Territory

The focus is on sustainability and scalability, with plans to design replicable models that can be deployed across Nigeria.

“It’s not enough to bring tech, we must build ecosystems that support growth, education, and dignity,” Inuwa emphasized.

Beyond Technology: A Vision of Human Dignity and National Unity

Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, echoed the DG’s vision, praising NITDA’s leadership and reaffirming the commission’s commitment to restoring dignity to displaced families.

“This partnership is not just about gadgets and screens, it’s about giving people back their futures,” he said.

He outlined NCFRMI’s broader strategy, which includes:

• Developing resettlement cities in Borno, Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, and Nasarawa
• Building schools, hospitals, markets, and training centers for displaced families
• Promoting vocational and agricultural programs for self-reliance

With digital literacy now critical for modern life, from computer-based testing (like JAMB exams) to accessing healthcare and government services, the Commissioner stressed the urgency of ensuring that displaced children and youth gain ICT skills to secure their futures.

A Call to Action: Building a Digital Nigeria That Includes Everyone

Together, NITDA and NCFRMI are not just bridging the digital divide, they are transforming displacement into opportunity.

By combining technology, education, and compassion, they are building a model of inclusive growth that can serve as a blueprint for Africa and beyond.

“The future belongs to those who build it today,” Inuwa concluded. “And we are building a future where every Nigerian—no matter where they come from, has the digital tools to thrive.”

Kashifu Inuwa, director general of NITDA made this known during a strategic engagement with the leadership of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) at NITDA’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

Inuwa highlighted the productive partnership NITDA and NCFRMI have cultivated over the years through staff training and ICT support.

He announced plans to “reactivate and scale up this collaboration by supplying new IT equipment and introducing customised digital literacy programmes in resettlement cities.”

This initiative aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027), which aims to achieve 70% digital literacy nationwide by 2027, a central pillar of the Federal Government’s digital economy agenda.

Outlining NITDA’s renewed efforts include several key strategies: Establishing community-based digital learning centres with shared devices; Deploying trained National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to deliver ICT training in resettlement camps; and Providing ICT infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of each community.

Inuwa also revealed that NITDA is partnering with an international organisation to deploy innovative tech hubs within Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the Federal Capital Territory.

He emphasised the need for a formalised workstream between both agencies to conduct joint needs assessments in resettlement cities and camps, design and deliver customised interventions for each community, and develop a scalable, replicable model for nationwide adoption.

This collaboration, Inuwa reiterated, is crucial for scaling impact and reaching more Nigerians in need, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, commended NITDA’s leadership in driving national development.

He noted that Nigeria currently hosts over 6.1 million internally displaced persons due to insecurity, insurgency, and natural disasters, with over 125,000 Nigerians also seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

While the Federal Government is addressing these challenges, deeper partnerships are essential to empower vulnerable populations.

Commissioner Ahmed stressed that the partnership extends beyond digital tools, aiming to restore dignity and opportunity.

He added that strengthening host communities by improving access to clean water, rehabilitated schools, and healthcare services is also a goal.

Resettlement cities have already been developed in Kano, Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, and Daura, with a new site in Keffi, Nasarawa State, housing over 40 households.

These centers provide homes, healthcare facilities, markets, schools, vocational training hubs, and agricultural land to empower displaced persons to rebuild their lives.

“Digital literacy is now a vital component of empowerment. With initiatives like JAMB’s shift to Computer-Based Testing, we must ensure that displaced children and youth acquire the ICT skills needed to thrive in today’s world. “We are fully committed to working with NITDA to ensure no Nigerian child is left behind.”