Nigeria’s future isn’t buried in oil fields, it’s being typed, coded, and created in classrooms, markets, rural hubs, and mobile screens.
And at the heart of this revolution is digital literacy.
That’s the resounding message from Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who delivered a keynote presentation titled “Nigeria’s Journey to a Digital Economy” at the recent BusinessDay CEO Forum in Lagos.
In a room filled with policy shapers and business leaders, Inuwa stated;
“Digital literacy is the foundation of our digital economy… It’s about unlocking opportunities for entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic participation.”
From Reforms to Real Power: Digital Skills as Economic Currency
With Nigeria’s ambitious Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative targeting 70% digital literacy by 2027, the country is betting big on skills as its most renewable resource.
But this isn’t just about teaching people how to use apps or open email.
Inuwa’s message was clear: Digital literacy is national infrastructure just as vital as roads, power, and water.
“Our goal is simple yet transformative; ensure every Nigerian, whether in urban or rural areas, has the digital skills required to thrive in the modern economy.”
From mobile learning hubs in underserved communities to national online platforms, DL4ALL is a grassroots-to-boardroom campaign to democratize opportunity.
A Digital Evolution, 20 Years in the Making
Back in 2001, when NITDA was born, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians had access to computers.
Today, over 130 million are connected to the internet, and the ICT sector now contributes more than 17% to Nigeria’s GDP.
This isn’t just growth, it’s a tectonic shift.
Inuwa traced the pivotal milestones:
The NITDA Act of 2007
The 2012 policy shift toward integrating ICT into daily life
The 2019 pivot from adoption to economic activation of digital tech
Each step, he noted, has been deliberate and it’s working.
Technology: Not Just an Enabler, A National Strategy
Quoting from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Inuwa argued that tech isn’t a “sector” anymore, it’s the driver behind every sector.
“Whether it’s agriculture, oil and gas, education, health, finance, or entertainment, technology is the engine. The new economy is not digital-first. It’s digital-always.”
From AI in healthcare to digital payment systems, from creative tech exports to smart farming, the real-world applications are already reshaping lives. But access remains uneven.
That’s where digital literacy becomes more than a buzzword, it becomes a right.
Strategy Meets Impact: NITDA’s 8-Point Pillar Plan
To translate ambition into action, Inuwa laid out the eight strategic pillars guiding NITDA’s transformation agenda:
Foster Digital Literacy & Cultivate Talent
Build a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem
Strengthen Policy Implementation & Legal Frameworks
Promote Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure
Enhance Cybersecurity & Digital Trust
Nurture Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Forge Strategic Partnerships
Cultivate a Vibrant, Agile Workforce
“These are not abstract goals,” Inuwa stressed. “They’re deliberate strategies to build an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Nigeria.”
The Bigger Picture: Reforms Are Not Endpoints
Inuwa cautioned against viewing reform as a box to check.
“Reforming the economy is not a destination—it’s a lifelong process of innovation, adaptation, and courage.”
By centering digital literacy in national reform efforts, NITDA is not only closing the digital divide but also unlocking what Inuwa calls “the next trillion-naira economy” powered by minds, not minerals.
Summarily, Inuwa’s charge is simple but radical:
equip every Nigerian with the skills to thrive in a connected world, and you don’t just grow the economy, you build national resilience.
“Digital literacy is not a soft skill. It’s survival. It’s growth. It’s identity,” he said.
As the world eyes Africa’s tech boom, Nigeria isn’t just trying to catch up. It’s trying to lead the charge with keyboards, not crude oil.
