The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening digital capacity across Nigeria’s public service, setting an ambitious target of 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030, with a mid-term milestone of 70 per cent by 2027.
Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), made this known at the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) training awards programme.
He said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s national development priorities and is designed to equip civil servants with essential digital skills to improve governance and service delivery.
According to Abdullahi, 54,377 civil servants have enrolled in the DL4ALL programme, representing nearly 79 per cent participation, while over 40 per cent have completed their courses.
He explained that the programme, implemented in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, initially faced challenges such as limited access to official email accounts. These issues, he said, were resolved through coordinated institutional efforts.
To drive completion and practical application of skills, incentives, including the presentation of laptops, were introduced.
Abdullahi stressed that digital competence enhances professional relevance and strengthens national capacity beyond the public sector. He described the collaboration between NITDA and the Office of the Head of Service as critical to sustaining digital transformation.
Also speaking, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, described the awards ceremony as a platform to recognise excellence and measure progress toward a digitally enabled civil service.
She said digital literacy is now a strategic requirement for productivity and effective governance, adding 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, stressing the need for continuous upskilling to meet evolving administrative demands.
She announced the recognition of 35 officers for outstanding performance and encouraged wider participation across all cadres.
The speakers reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to embedding digital literacy at the heart of public sector reforms, with NITDA pledging sustained efforts to promote digital inclusion and support Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
