Fifty young, unemployed Nigerians are now equipped with cutting-edge digital skills after successfully completing a four-week intensive bootcamp, a major leap under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative powered by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in partnership with global tech giant Cisco.
The training, hosted at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos, immersed participants in practical sessions on Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials — not just to learn, but to lead in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on behalf of NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, the Head of the South West Zonal Office, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, said the programme represents more than a skills workshop. “This is a launchpad. These youths are stepping into the digital space as creators, not just consumers,” she said.
The initiative is a key element of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), which emphasizes digital inclusion, youth empowerment, and emerging technologies — aligning seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to drive innovation and economic diversification through tech.
Inuwa underscored that the programme also supports Nigeria’s national goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, a vision led by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
“These participants are now armed with skills that are not just globally relevant, but deeply needed in our local ecosystem,” Inuwa said. “We are building a generation of innovators who will solve real problems, build local tech ventures, and secure our digital infrastructure.”
During the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning that went beyond theory — culminating in final presentations that demonstrated their grasp of AI, data analytics, and core IT skills. Their projects revealed both technical talent and a clear desire to uplift communities through tech-driven solutions.
The DG expressed gratitude to Cisco for its continued support and called on other stakeholders to deepen investments in similar youth-focused collaborations that expand access to digital opportunities.
For the 50 graduates, this is only the beginning. With certification in hand and vision in their hearts, they are now part of the vanguard powering Nigeria’s future — one algorithm, app, and idea at a time.
