Nigeria’s push toward a digitally skilled population is moving beyond policy rooms into markets, motor parks and community centres across the country.
The National Information Technology Development Agency has strengthened its collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps to accelerate the Federal Government’s digital literacy targets, rewarding eight corps members with ₦3.5 million and laptops for their performance as Digital Literacy Champions.
The presentation, led by NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja, signals a deliberate strategy to use Nigeria’s youth infrastructure to deliver measurable digital inclusion at scale.
According to Inuwa, the partnership is central to achieving the government’s goal of 70 per cent digital literacy nationwide. “Digital literacy is no longer optional. It is foundational to innovation, governance and economic growth,” he said.
He explained that NITDA’s Digital Literacy Framework focuses on practical competencies such as information and data literacy, digital content creation and innovation skills that citizens can immediately apply.
Rather than limiting the initiative to formal institutions, NITDA is deploying corps members directly into communities. Under the Digital Literacy for All initiative, trained corps members serve as Digital Literacy Champions, delivering daily training sessions in public spaces including markets, religious centres, senior citizens’ hubs and motor parks.
Importantly, NITDA plans to recruit 80 corps members per state, including the Federal Capital Territory, creating a nationwide grassroots training network. With more than 650,000 graduates participating in the NYSC scheme annually, the structure offers both reach and continuity.
Inuwa noted that the initiative is designed not only to improve national digital competence but also to strengthen the employability and entrepreneurial prospects of participating corps members.
In addition to field training, they gain access to NITDA’s online learning platforms to deepen their technical capabilities.
For the NYSC, the collaboration aligns with its broader mandate of youth development and national service. Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, NYSC Director-General, described the partnership as strategic and timely.
He said, “With the volume of graduates that pass through the Scheme every year, equipping them with relevant digital skills creates a multiplier effect across communities and industries.”
The recognition of eight outstanding corps members with cash awards and laptops underscores an accountability and performance-driven approach. Additional acknowledgements were extended to institutional partners including the Mind the Gap Foundation and Tripod Professional Services Limited for supporting implementation efforts.
Consequently, the collaboration moves digital literacy from theory to structured execution. It positions corps members not just as beneficiaries of training but as frontline educators shaping Nigeria’s transition into a more inclusive digital economy.
As Nigeria navigates rapid technological change, this partnership offers a clear model: build skills at the grassroots, empower young graduates as change agents, and align institutional frameworks toward measurable national outcomes.
