If government must move at the speed of citizens, then its workforce must first move at the speed of technology.
That reality framed the Digital Literacy for All training awards programme, where the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, restated the Federal Government’s ambition to rebuild public service capacity through digital skills.
Nigeria, he said, is targeting 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with a midterm goal of 70 per cent by 2027. According to him, the public service cannot be excluded from that journey.
“The future of effective governance depends on a digitally competent workforce,” Inuwa stated. He explained that the DL4ALL initiative was designed to equip civil servants with foundational digital skills that directly improve service delivery and administrative efficiency.
Launched in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the programme initially faced operational hurdles. Limited access to official email accounts slowed onboarding.
However, coordinated institutional reforms resolved the bottlenecks and expanded participation.
As a result, 54,377 civil servants have enrolled in the programme, representing nearly 79 per cent participation. More than 40 per cent have completed their courses.
To drive engagement and practical application, laptops were introduced as incentives for high performing participants.
Inuwa emphasised that digital competence is not simply about learning software. It strengthens professional relevance, improves data management, enhances communication, and reduces process delays. Ultimately, he noted, it raises the overall quality of governance.
“We are building capacity that goes beyond the individual officer. It strengthens institutions and national development,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson Jack, described the awards ceremony as both recognition and accountability. She said digital competence is now a strategic requirement, not an optional skill.
“This initiative ensures inclusive access to digital skills across ministries, departments and agencies,” she said. Furthermore, she disclosed that plans are underway to transition ministries and extra ministerial departments to paperless operations by December 2025.
According to her, sustained upskilling remains essential as governance becomes more data driven and citizen expectations continue to rise.
At the event, 35 officers were recognised for exceptional performance, with a call for broader participation across all cadres.
Taken together, the numbers point to more than a training programme. They signal a structural shift in how Nigeria’s public institutions prepare for a knowledge driven economy.
As digital tools increasingly shape policy execution, budgeting, communication, and record keeping, the competence of civil servants becomes a national asset.
For citizens, the implications are practical. Faster processing times, clearer communication, reduced paperwork, and improved transparency depend on digital confidence within the system.
Therefore, strengthening digital literacy within the public service is not only an internal reform. It is a step toward a government that works better for the people it serves.
With measurable participation rates, defined targets, and interagency collaboration, the DL4ALL programme reflects a deliberate attempt to match policy ambition with workforce capability.
The challenge now is sustaining momentum and translating skills into visible improvements in everyday public service delivery.
