TECHDIGEST – In its continued effort at maximising socio-economic opportunities and target of achieving 95% digital literacy penetration by the year 2030 in the country, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has engaged Multinationals and Private organisations to develop and co-create National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS).

The NDSS is a policy document developed by NITDA under the directive of the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), to bridge the digital skills gap in the country and develop a clear road map for the diversification of the nation’s economy and sustainability of its digital economy.

The engagement, which was held virtually, had representatives from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), APPLE, HUAWEI, META, ORACLE, GOOGLE, CISCO Software Inc and many others.

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While giving an insight into the genesis of the development of the NDSS during his remarks, the NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, disclosed that the agency, in collaboration with the Co-Creation Hub, undertook research to understand existing talent and skills which later on birthed the first draft of the NDSS.

Inuwa stated that the NDSS will help re-position the country in alignment with global standards and to take full advantage of the digital economy benefits, while identifying Digital Literacy & Skills as a critical strategic pillar in the Agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2021-2024 towards the implementation of the present administration’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

“In line with the digital literacy and skills pillar of NDEPS for a Digital Nigeria, NITDA has set out a target of 1 million developers and skills by December 2023 and thus, rolled out several capacity buildings programmes that are targeted at people from different sectors of the economy’, he noted.

The NITDA DG added that many of the capacity-building programmes were conducted in collaboration with professional ICT bodies, international corporations, and non-governmental organisations to provide stronger support for reskilling and upskilling for at-risk or displaced workers.

“As the apex Information Technology development and regulatory agency in the country, the collaboration of the Agency with key multinational and private stakeholders in developing the NDSS will produce a robust strategy. The creation of the first draft by volunteer expert groups, talent gap assessment, and co-creation with government stakeholders are some of the achievements made so far,” he said.

Inuwa also urged everyone, especially stakeholders and other well-meaning Nigerians in the digital economy family to make inputs that would meet the unified mission and vision of the NDSS.

While expressing his belief in the promising outcome of the collaboration, Inuwa stated that “this is a crucial milestone in our efforts to harmoniously engage with Multinationals and Private sectors as one of the key stakeholders for developing and co-creating the NDSS, and to come up with a comprehensive strategy for setting up standards and developing Digital Literacy & Skills in the country, as well as developing IT professional skills of different proficiency levels,” he added.

The Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department of NITDA, Dr. Amina Sambo-Magaji thanked all participants for the support and cooperation given thus far.

She stated that the Rule Making Process (RMP) of NITDA has made provision for engagement in the development of the NDSS.

While noting that the selection of the multinationals and tech giants for the collaboration had been carefully done regarding their operations as individual organisations, she was confident that the co-creation of the NDSS will align with the document’s priority and consequently produce a robust one.

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TECHDIGEST – In harnessing skills and resources towards the sustainability of the nation’s digital economy, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has made a call for robust partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora in driving the Agency’s initiatives towards the development of the nation’s economy.

The NITDA DG made this known during a courtesy visit by the Continental Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe (NIDOE), Dr. Bashir Obasekola, to the Agency’s Corporate headquarters in Abuja.

As a very dynamic personality who has led the agency in attaining giant strides in different areas of its mandate over the years, Inuwa believes that fostering partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora would enable the Nigerian government to tap into the vast opportunities offered by Nigerians with industry exposure in diaspora and provide a deeper sense of purpose to national development.

Inuwa, who was represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions department, Dr. Usman Gambo Abdullahi, hinted that partnering with NIDOE will provide a foundation that can be built on for further collaborations with Nigerians in the diaspora.

“NIDOE is the second largest Nigerians in diaspora organization across the world, and you being here is the beginning of a relationship we have been hoping to build”, he noted.

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Speaking on his unflinching commitment to making the agency a high-velocity one, Inuwa disclosed that, through its Research and Development department, the agency has developed a Brain Circulation Strategic Program for 2023 by networking with people in the diaspora to drive the Research and Development ecosystem of the country.

While emphasizing the need for effective collaboration with Nigerians in the diaspora on the agency’s initiatives, Inuwa enthusiastically expressed the agency’s willingness to co-creating with them in the development of its regulatory instruments.

“Individually, Nigerians in the diaspora are making efforts and driving good initiatives but collectively, we can work to sustain all these initiatives which is why, in developing our regulatory instruments, we have open invitations for volunteers across the world”, he said.

The DG further revealed that the Code of Practice for social media, National Artificial Intelligence Policy, National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS) and the National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS) are initiatives of the agency which were been currently subjected to stakeholders engagement and have attracted interests from Nigerians in diaspora in support of their development.

Citing the LEAP event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 2 Nigerian startups won a $300,000 grant as an example, Inuwa believes that the engagement with NIDOE would further improve the flow of foreign direct investments into the country.

“This meeting is very important to us and we feel this is the beginning of the relationship we want to establish that will be mutually beneficial to Nigerians in the diaspora and to Nigeria.”, he concluded.

Giving his remark earlier, Dr. Bashir Obasekola appreciated NITDA for the warm reception and applauded the Agency for its immense contribution to the growth of the national economy.

He gave assurances of the organization’s support in collaborating with the Agency through effective training, mentoring, consultancy, investment and funding in areas of IT Research & Development, Cybersecurity, amongst other initiatives.

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TECHDIGEST – As part of efforts to foster the implementation of the digital literacy and skills pillar of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021-2024), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), today conducted virtual inauguration of the Government Stakeholders Engagement Committee for the Development of the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS).

The Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, speaking at the event recognises that collaborating with key government stakeholders to develop the NDSS will eminently assist in producing a very strong and encompassing strategy.

The NDSS inaugural engagement committee comprised of representatives from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), saddled with the responsibility to develop and co-create the National Digital Skills and Strategy (NDSS) which will focus on balancing the gaps between the digital skills supply pipeline and in-demand skill sets required for the future of work in Nigeria.

Inuwa who was represented by the Director IT Infrastructure Solutions, ITIS Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi noted that there was a call earlier for volunteer experts to conduct research in determining the talent gap assessment, adding that the assessment was carried out by Co-Creation Hub which culminated into the first draft of the NDSS.

He cited Statista on the 2021 World Bank, International Finance Corporation Report on the adoption rate of digital skills which was projected to increase from 25% to 45% by 2030. ”The demand for digital skills in sub-Saharan Africa shows a higher tertiary Gross Enrolment Ratio, (GER) of about 11 percent and will result in an increased number of digitally literate graduates,” he said.

The NITDA boss further stated that, with a population of over 200 million, Nigerians which accounts for 47% of West Africa’s population, “Nigeria has a significant brain capital advantage with a large youthful population of an average age of 19 years. Nigeria has a strong comparative advantage to leverage on technology and use this opportunity to supply labor to the global market.”

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He reiterated that NITDA has been driving the growth and regulation of the IT sector in the country, providing an enabling environment under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to boost the growth of the Nigerian ICT industry. These are targeted to maximize our socio-economic opportunities as we are leading our nation to embrace digital transformation, and to achieve 95% Digital Literacy penetration by the year 2030 as one of the critical key pillars and targets of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS), Inuwa said.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Director, Digital Literacy and Capacity Building department of the Agency, Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji said,” we are in the era where skills can give you access to job either physically, remotely or help you to start enterprises that can create jobs for the nation and the world at large.”

She emphasized that any certificate acquired without the right skill set would likely be disadvantageous to the person in this digital era. “This strategy is coming at a time when we are bridging the talent gap, not just in Nigeria but globally,” Dr. Magaji said.

She added that the Rule Making Process (RMP) of NITDA encourages the involvement stakeholders in the development of strategic document hence the need for the engagement.

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TECHDIGEST – The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has virtually inaugurated Volunteers Expert Groups (VEGs) for the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS), aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global digital talent factory capable of filling the 85 million talent deficit as predicted by Korn Ferry in its report titled the $8.5 trillion talent shortage by 2030.
The NITDA Boss stated that it is a momentous milestone in our efforts to harmoniously engage with vibrant and talented experts across different IT domains, aimed at co-creating the NDSS.

He urged them to come-up with a comprehensive strategy for setting up standards and developing Digital Literacy & Skills in the country, as well as develop IT professional skills of different proficiency levels.

Inuwa reiterated on four (4) competitive advantages Nigeria has of becoming an ideal nation to take the unfilled job opportunities, as Nigeria has the largest population of youths in the world. The Nigerian government recognizes the importance of digital skills and is supporting it through investing in capacity building while implementing policies to promote digital inclusion by creating an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.

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Furthermore, he said, “Nigerians are talented, ambitious, and willing to learn and connect to the global value chain. The Nigerian digital economy is one of the fastest-growing economy in the world with an annual growth rate of 15 percent. This high growth rate suggests that there are ample opportunities to benefit from it.”

The NITDA Boss asserted that the National Digital Skills and Strategy (NDSS) will focus on balancing the gaps between the digital skills supply pipeline and in-demand skill sets required for the future of work.

Speaking earlier in her welcoming address, the Acting Director, Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, Dr. Amina Sambo Magaji, stated that there was an open call application for Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to apply for the NDSS VEG. A rigorous screening process was used to identify key people who are experts and will be able to add value into the strategy. The selected persons have built expertise within their own different ecosystems or workgroup, either in building their skills, or in skills of developing strategies, or building ecosystems specifically in the technology and innovation ecosystem.

She said, “the VEG has been grouped into four (4) clusters namely: Digital Literacy Cluster, Digital Capacity Cluster, IT Professional Cluster and M&E Funding & Partnership Cluster, consisting of the Lead, Deputy Lead and Members.”

Explaining further, she said, the digital literacy cluster focuses on basics and foundation, while the digital capacity focuses on IT or Non-IT professional skills.

The IT professional cluster focuses on Technology skills such as coding and non-coding skills, and the final cluster which is the M&E Funding & partnership cluster work with all the 3 clusters by monitoring and evaluating the initiatives, the policies and the incentives within the documents as well as seek for fund and partnership.

Mr Niran Oyekale from Commit Consult Ltd, and the lead of Digital Literacy Cluster, appreciated the DG for changing the narrative of the digital space. “It is during your tenure as the DG NITDA that Nigeria actually is going to benefit from a strategic plan to empower Nigerians and make Nigeria very comfortable, competent and confident to move smoothly into the digital space”, he stated.

Mr Ifeanyi Emmanuel Okafor from Teeside University, and the lead of the IT Professional Cluster, assured the DG that this dream is a wonderful one and it will go down as one of the greatest creations in the history of our country. He commended the DG for his commitment and solicited for more support.

Mr Charles Emembolu from Techquest Stem Academy, and the lead of the Digital Capacity Building Cluster, applauded the DG for his relentless efforts in working with Nigerian Startups towards the achievement of the National Digital Skill Scheme. He commended the agency’s team for the zeal, efforts, guidance, and support rendered.

The lead for the M&E, Funding & Partnership Cluster, Mr. Sam Emmanuel, from Semicolon, equally appreciated this opportunity given to him to contribute his quota in the establishment of the National Digital Skill Strategy.

Being a national document, the outcome of the VEG activities will be further developed with key government stakeholders that will be part of bringing the strategy to life before commencing on a wider socialization.

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TECHDIGEST – Digital Literacy and IT Skills has become more indispensable for every global citizen, whether to communicate, find employment, receive comprehensive education, or socialize. The widening gaps in digital literacy and IT Talents in Nigeria risk creating a digital underclass.

To reduce this widening gap and realize the full potential of a digital economy which is aligned with the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) to diversify the Nigerian economy, create massive jobs and achieve 95 percent Digital Literacy target of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy developed by the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to reposition Nigeria and leverage the vast opportunities of the Digital and Technology Skills Talent.

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It is against this backdrop that the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, directs the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to develop a National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS). The development of this strategy is envisaged to Identify and Analyze the present Skills Gap, proffer implementable strategies, initiatives, and incentives as drivers to achieve the set vision.

More-so it will provide clear roadmap for National Digital Skills Strategy to meet global Industry demands, on how Nigeria can leverage its skilled human capital to diversify the economy into a sustainable digital economy.

NITDA is responsible for developing standards, guidelines, and frameworks for the IT sector in Nigeria as enshrined in section 6 of the NITDA Act 2007. The agency invites the public to contribute and participate in developing the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS) with a vision to make Nigeria Africa’s largest Tech-Talent factory. 

Kindly use the link below to participate by providing input or contributing to the policy’s development as an expert/specialist volunteer

Send your Input/Contributions through the volunteer expert form: https://bit.ly/3F4TFNk   

For enquiry and information please send an email to academy@nitda.gov.ng   

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