The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), under the leadership of Director General Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, is steadfast in its mission to elevate digital literacy to 70% by 2025.
This goal will be pursued through innovative initiatives, ongoing collaborations, and active stakeholder engagement.
During a recent visit to NITDA’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, representatives from the Afre.lib Academy, led by Executive Director of Operations Mrs. Joice Gomina, discussed potential partnerships with NITDA.
The Academy seeks to collaborate on several upcoming events, including the Afre.lib Academy’s bootcamps in August 2024 and the “Tech for Earth” Career Expo in September 2024.
Additionally, they aim to have DG Inuwa as a Keynote Speaker and secure sponsorship for their Tech Challenge Winners.
DG Inuwa outlined NITDA’s strategic approach to digital literacy; “We focus on three key areas. First, in formal education, we’re collaborating with the Minister of Education to update curriculums and integrate essential digital skills. This includes training teachers and equipping them with the necessary tools.”
“For those outside the formal education system, we have the ‘Digital Literacy for All’ initiative,” Inuwa continued. “We’re developing an Edtech platform, a Learning Management System, where people can learn at their own pace. We’re also translating it into Nigerian languages to ensure accessibility for non-English speakers.”
“In addition, we’re considering partnerships with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), leveraging their presence in all 774 local government areas to disseminate content widely. This approach will help us reach a critical mass of learners.”
“Finally, we aim to enhance digital literacy within the formal workforce, targeting both government and private sector employees to boost productivity.”
Inuwa assured the Afre.lib Academy of NITDA’s full support, noting the shared vision of fostering IT development and digital literacy. “We need to align your curriculum with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
We’re also working to establish at least one Innovation Hub per state to provide spaces for developing proof of concept.”
Mrs. Gomina highlighted the Academy’s commitment to bridging the gap between digitally native young children and their traditionally trained teachers.
In her words; “Our Academy, composed of passionate educators, aims to mentor children and provide a safe space for exploring technology within ethical boundaries. We want to shift from an entitlement mentality to one of citizenship and responsibility, showing children how they can contribute to nation-building through technology.”
She detailed the Academy’s activities, including bootcamps, summer tech challenges, and teacher training, expressing gratitude for NITDA’s willingness to support and partner with the Academy.
The visit concluded with a demonstration of prototypes developed by children trained by the Academy.
