NITDA Boss Highlights Human Capital as Key to Nigeria’s Global Competitiveness
The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has underscored the importance of human capital development in driving Nigeria’s economic growth and enhancing its position in the global economy.
Inuwa made this known while receiving a delegation from the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
He noted that Nigeria’s youthful and rapidly growing population presents a strategic advantage, especially as many developed countries grapple with ageing populations and shrinking workforces. According to him, the rising global demand for technical talent—expected to exceed supply by 2030—creates an opportunity for Nigeria to become a major contributor to the global workforce.
“With the right investments in education and digital skills, Nigeria can transform its demographic advantage into a powerful engine for economic growth and global relevance,” Inuwa said.
The NITDA boss emphasized that Nigeria has the potential to evolve into a global talent hub and a net exporter of skilled professionals. He also reframed migration narratives, describing Nigerians in the diaspora as valuable assets who contribute significantly through remittances and knowledge transfer, noting that diaspora inflows remain a stable source of foreign exchange.
Drawing parallels with India, Inuwa highlighted how sustained investment in human capital has enabled the country to produce top executives in leading global technology firms. He attributed this success to deliberate policies focused on talent development and international placement.
Addressing the issue of out-of-school children, Inuwa stressed that equipping millions of underserved Nigerians with digital skills could unlock vast economic opportunities and help bridge the global talent gap.
Central to this vision, he said, is NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework, which aims to achieve 95 percent digital literacy across the country by 2030. The framework focuses on six key areas, including device and software operation, information and data literacy, digital content creation, digital marketing, online safety, and problem-solving.
He added that digital skills could transform key sectors such as agriculture and commerce, enabling farmers to adopt data-driven practices and small-scale traders to expand their businesses through online platforms.
On implementation, Inuwa highlighted the agency’s “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, targeting students, workers, and participants in the informal sector. He also disclosed ongoing collaborations with global organisations to train civil servants and strengthen institutional capacity.
Reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to inclusive development, Inuwa said the agency is partnering with the Almajiri Commission to establish digital learning centres, develop training programmes in indigenous languages, and deploy instructors to Almajiri schools nationwide.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Muhammad Sani Idris, commended NITDA’s efforts in promoting digital literacy, describing them as vital to bridging Nigeria’s education gap.
Idris expressed concern over the growing number of out-of-school children, noting that the traditional Almajiri system—originally designed for Qur’anic education—has been weakened by years of neglect and socio-economic challenges. He said many children are sent far from home without adequate care, exposing them to exploitation and insecurity.
He called for coordinated efforts among government, communities, and development partners to address the crisis, emphasizing the trans-border nature of the Almajiri system and the need for strategic collaboration.
Idris also expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships with NITDA to leverage digital innovation in expanding access to education and improving opportunities for millions of Nigerian children.
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