The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, alongside the Federal Commissioner of Refugees Migrants and Internal Displaced Persons(NCRMI), Hon Tijani Aliyu Ahmed.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is stepping up efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide by expanding ICT infrastructure and digital literacy training among the country’s displaced populations. This was reaffirmed by the agency’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, during a strategic engagement with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja.
Inuwa noted the longstanding collaboration between NITDA and the NCFRMI, which has previously facilitated staff training and ICT support. He announced plans to revive and expand the partnership through new IT equipment distribution and customised digital literacy programmes in resettlement cities. These efforts align with the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027) and the federal government’s goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027.
Key components of the renewed strategy include:
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Establishing community-based digital learning centres with shared access to devices.
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Deploying trained NYSC members to deliver ICT training in IDP camps.
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Providing ICT infrastructure tailored to the unique contexts of each resettlement community.
Inuwa also revealed an upcoming partnership with an international organisation to establish tech hubs within IDP camps in the FCT, aimed at promoting innovation and skill-building.
To institutionalise the collaboration, he proposed the creation of a formal workstream between both agencies to conduct joint needs assessments, deliver community-specific interventions, and design a scalable model for nationwide implementation—all in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Federal Commissioner of the NCFRMI, Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, commended NITDA’s commitment to inclusive development, noting that over 6.1 million Nigerians are currently displaced internally, while more than 125,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Ahmed stressed that the partnership transcends ICT delivery, it’s also about restoring dignity and providing opportunities for affected populations. He highlighted ongoing development of resettlement cities in states like Kano, Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina, with a new site in Keffi, Nasarawa State, now home to over 40 households.
These cities are equipped with homes, healthcare facilities, schools, markets, and vocational training hubs to support full community rehabilitation. He also emphasized the urgency of integrating displaced children and youth into the digital economy.
“Digital literacy is now a vital component of empowerment. With initiatives like JAMB’s shift to Computer-Based Testing, we must ensure that displaced children and youth acquire the ICT skills needed to thrive,” Ahmed stated. “We are fully committed to working with NITDA to ensure no Nigerian child is left behind.”
The renewed collaboration between NITDA and NCFRMI is expected to make lasting impact in empowering Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations through digital inclusion and technological empowerment.