The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Digital Literacy and Skills Curriculum across all Nigerian universities.
The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, and his management team to the newly appointed NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, at the commission’s headquarters.
The renewed collaboration aims to accelerate the rollout of the curriculum, first agreed upon in December 2024, to integrate digital literacy and emerging technologies into university education.
Inuwa highlighted the critical need to reform Nigeria’s education system by embedding digital skills such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity into university curricula.
“With the rapid advancement of technology, digital skills have become a necessity for success in today’s workforce. This collaboration is a strategic move to equip Nigerian students with the competencies needed to thrive in a technology-driven world, enhancing job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic resilience,” Inuwa said.
The partnership aligned with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s economic reform agenda, which prioritised digitization, industrialization, and innovation.
Responding, Professor Ribadu reaffirmed NUC’s unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the curriculum, pledging to make the necessary policy adjustments to support its seamless integration.
He commended NITDA’s leadership in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and emphasized that digital education is central to Nigeria’s vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy.
The collaboration will involve:
- A structured implementation plan
- Capacity-building programmes for educators
- Deployment of digital infrastructure
- Integration of emerging technologies into university curricula
The initiative is also designed to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that students from all backgrounds, including those in rural and underserved communities, have access to quality digital education.
With both organisations committed to the initiative, the partnership is expected to usher in a new era in Nigeria’s education sector, producing tech-savvy graduates ready to drive the nation’s digital economy forward.
