FG sets to unlock opportunities in digital skills

On Thursday, the Federal Government announced its commitment to fostering an environment conducive to tapping into the digital skills market in sub-Saharan Africa, which is estimated to be worth $130 billion. The Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, emphasized that the primary challenge in achieving Nigeria’s digital literacy goals is not access to technology but rather a lack of digital literacy.

This announcement was made during a dialogue on the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), organized by the GIZ/Digital Transformation Centre (DTC) in Abuja. Minister Tijani highlighted the decreasing cost and increased accessibility of technology that drives digital transformation. However, he stressed that the main hurdle lies in digital illiteracy. He noted that while more people have access to technology, the crucial question is whether they possess the knowledge to utilize it effectively.

The Minister emphasized that in order to achieve the desired economic prosperity, it is imperative for people to be digitally literate and actively participate in the global economy.

Kashifu Abdullahi, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), echoed these sentiments and emphasized the significant investment potential of the digital skills market, especially for the private sector. He cited statistics from Statista and the International Finance Corporation, indicating that by 2030, 28 million jobs in Nigeria and 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills.

Abdullahi explained that the government’s primary focus is to empower Nigerians with digital literacy skills to bridge the digital literacy gap and enable them to participate in the digital economy. He acknowledged the substantial investment required, amounting to $130 billion, to train and retrain 230 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. He emphasized that the government is creating a conducive environment for the private sector to capture the value in this market and highlighted the National Digital Literacy Framework as a key initiative to establish an industry for training people.

Abdullahi emphasized that this process will be collaborative, involving the private sector, Civil Society Organizations, and international partners. He also noted that the framework aims to empower 95 percent of Nigerians with digital skills by 2030 through improved access, skills development, inclusive participation, and workforce readiness.

Furthermore, Abdullahi pointed out that in today’s context, being digitally illiterate means not being able to use digital devices. He advocated for a review of the education system’s curriculum, from kindergarten to university, to ensure that everyone in Nigeria becomes digitally literate.