‘Digital Literacy: A Catalyst for Strengthening Public Service Capacity’
By Naeemah Junaid
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening digital capacity in the public service.
Speaking at the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) training awards programme, Inuwa said Nigeria is targeting 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with a mid-term goal of 70 per cent by 2027.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the country’s national development priorities.
He explained that the DL4ALL programme was introduced to equip civil servants with basic digital skills required for effective service delivery and improved governance.
The initiative, implemented in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, initially faced challenges such as limited access to official email accounts, which were later resolved through coordinated institutional efforts.
Inuwa disclosed that 54,377 civil servants have enrolled in the programme, representing nearly 79 per cent participation, while over 40 per cent have completed their courses.
He added that incentives, including the presentation of laptops, were introduced to encourage course completion and the practical application of digital skills.
According to him, digital competence enhances professional relevance and contributes to national capacity development beyond the public service.
He commended the collaboration between NITDA and the Office of the Head of Service, describing it as critical to sustaining digital transformation and improving service delivery.
Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, described the awards programme as an opportunity to recognise outstanding performance and assess progress toward a digitally enabled public service.
She said digital competence has become a strategic requirement for productivity and governance, noting that the DL4ALL initiative ensures inclusive access to digital skills across ministries, departments and agencies.
Mrs. Walson-Jack disclosed that plans are underway to transition ministries and extra-ministerial departments to paperless operations by December 2025.
She stressed the need for continuous upskilling of civil servants to keep pace with evolving administrative demands.
She also announced the recognition of 35 officers for exceptional performance and encouraged broader participation across all cadres to strengthen institutional capacity.
The speakers reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to embedding digital literacy in public sector reforms.
NITDA said it remains committed to promoting digital inclusion, strengthening capacity development and supporting Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
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