The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting youth online safety and digital literacy through a strengthened partnership with Meta, as part of efforts to build a digitally inclusive economy and enhance trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.
Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made this known during the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta in Abuja, where stakeholders from government, industry, civil society organisations and the education sector gathered to advance collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring safe and positive online experiences for young Nigerians.
The summit featured the launch of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, initiatives developed by Meta in partnership with NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, Inuwa said the partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in promoting inclusive economic growth and strengthening national security through enhanced cybersecurity and digital trust.
According to him, developing a digitally skilled population capable of navigating the online space safely is critical to unlocking innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and broader economic opportunities.
Speaking on the theme of the summit, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” Inuwa stressed that protecting young people online requires a collective effort from government, industry, educators, parents and communities.
“While digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and social connection, ensuring that young people can benefit from these opportunities safely is a shared responsibility,” he said.
The NITDA boss noted that digital literacy and online safety are inseparable, emphasising that citizens must not only acquire digital skills but also learn to use digital platforms responsibly and ethically.
He said this principle is embedded in NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and its flagship Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, which aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
Inuwa disclosed that online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy have been integrated as core competencies within the framework.
Highlighting the impact of NITDA’s collaboration with Meta, he revealed that the Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign implemented over the past year reached more than 94 million people and generated over 216 million impressions across Facebook and Instagram, providing practical guidance on online safety, privacy protection and responsible internet use.
He added that both organisations also partnered during Safer Internet Day activities, engaging members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and empowering them to serve as advocates of responsible digital behaviour within their communities.
Expressing optimism about the launch of MDW 2.0, Inuwa described the initiative as a strategic platform that would help institutionalise online safety education within Nigeria’s broader digital literacy ecosystem.
He said NITDA plans to integrate the programme into its teacher capacity-building initiatives, strengthen resources available to its nationwide network of Digital Literacy Champions and expand awareness campaigns through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations and community stakeholders.
“Our shared ambition should be to ensure that every Nigerian child is supported not only by safer digital platforms, but also by informed parents, empowered teachers and digitally confident communities,” he said.
Describing the launch as a major milestone, Inuwa said it marks the beginning of a deeper strategic collaboration between government and industry aimed at raising a generation of Nigerians who are digitally skilled, responsible and resilient.
He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to working with Meta and other stakeholders to build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem where innovation thrives and opportunities are accessible to all.
Also present at the summit were the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. Both ministers pledged continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement policies that promote a safe, inclusive and enabling digital environment for young Nigerians.
