The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has renewed its push for a digitally skilled public service, stressing that the success of government reforms and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will depend largely on the digital capacity of civil servants.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, made the call during a Digital Skills Masterclass organised by the agency in partnership with Meta for selected officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He was represented by NITDA’s Director of Digital Development Services, Olawumi Dejo.
Inuwa said Nigeria’s ambition to build a thriving digital economy requires a workforce equipped with the knowledge and competencies to embrace emerging technologies and modern governance practices.
He explained that NITDA developed the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) as a standardised roadmap for digital skills development, ensuring Nigerians acquire competencies that align with global best practices while addressing local realities.
According to him, the framework focuses on six key competency areas: device and software operations, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, digital safety, and problem-solving.
He noted that the framework would strengthen the ability of public servants to effectively deploy digital technologies, protect government information, improve collaboration across MDAs and enhance public service delivery.
“Technology alone cannot transform institutions. Real transformation happens when people acquire the right digital skills to rethink processes, improve productivity and deliver better outcomes,” he said.
The NITDA boss described continuous learning as essential in the era of rapid technological advancement, particularly with the growing adoption of AI, urging civil servants to continually upskill and reskill to remain relevant.
He also encouraged participants to become change agents by sharing the knowledge acquired during the masterclass with colleagues through a train-the-trainer approach that would accelerate digital capacity development across government institutions.
Inuwa disclosed that NITDA, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has trained over 53,000 civil servants in digital skills, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in building an AI-ready and digitally competent public service.
He assured participants that the agency would continue to expand digital learning opportunities to support ongoing government reforms, improve service delivery and position Nigeria to harness the opportunities offered by emerging technologies.
The Digital Skills Masterclass forms part of NITDA’s implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework and its broader commitment to developing the human capital needed to drive Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at the event, Meta’s Public Policy Manager for Anglophone West Africa, Victoria Oloni, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through its partnership with NITDA.
Oloni noted that government institutions are increasingly embracing digital tools, from electronic salary payments to the use of messaging platforms for official communication, signalling a gradual shift from analogue to digital operations.
She, however, stressed that the next phase should focus on institution-wide digital transformation rather than isolated technology adoption.
According to her, digital transformation is an ongoing journey that requires continuous learning, collaboration and innovation. She urged participants to maximise the training, emphasising that a digitally empowered workforce is critical to building a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centred public service.
