The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reinforced its partnership with Meta to promote youth online safety, digital literacy, and responsible digital citizenship as part of ongoing efforts to build a secure, inclusive, and trusted digital ecosystem in Nigeria.
The commitment was reaffirmed by the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa,during the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta in Abuja. The summit brought together government officials, technology companies, civil society organisations, educators, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration aimed at ensuring safer and more positive online experiences for young Nigerians.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, initiatives jointly developed by Meta, NITDA, and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to equip young people with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the digital space safely and responsibly.
Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building at NITDA, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, Inuwa said the partnership aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the goals of promoting inclusive economic growth and strengthening national security through enhanced cybersecurity and digital trust.
He noted that developing a digitally skilled and safety-conscious population is essential for driving innovation, entrepreneurship, employment, and sustainable economic development.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” the NITDA boss stressed that protecting children and young people online requires a coordinated effort involving government, technology companies, schools, parents, and communities.
“While digital technologies have unlocked enormous opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and social interaction, ensuring that young people benefit from these opportunities safely is a collective responsibility,” he said.
Inuwa emphasised that digital literacy goes beyond teaching people how to use technology; it must also empower them to navigate the digital environment responsibly, ethically, and securely.
“At NITDA, we believe digital literacy and online safety are inseparable. Equipping citizens with digital skills without teaching them how to protect themselves online would leave our mission incomplete,” he stated.
He explained that this philosophy is embedded in the Agency’s National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and its flagship Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, through which NITDA aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
According to him, competencies such as online safety, digital citizenship, privacy protection, digital wellbeing, critical thinking, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy have become integral components of the framework, preparing Nigerians to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Highlighting the impact of the collaboration with Meta, Inuwa described the partnership as a model for successful public-private sector cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
He disclosed that the organisations’ Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign reached over 94 million people and generated more than 216 million impressions across Facebook and Instagram, providing practical guidance on online safety, privacy, digital wellbeing, and responsible internet usage.
The partnership also extended to Safer Internet Day activities, during which members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were trained to serve as advocates for responsible digital behaviour within their communities. More recently, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to promoting innovation and inclusion during the Nigeria Digital Economy Forum.
Speaking on the newly launched My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, Inuwa described the initiative as a strategic platform that will help institutionalise online safety education within Nigeria’s national digital literacy programme.
He revealed that NITDA plans to integrate the programme into its teacher capacity-building initiatives, expand the resources available to its nationwide network of Digital Literacy Champions, and deepen awareness campaigns through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations, and community groups.
“Our collective goal should be to ensure that every Nigerian child is supported not only by safer digital platforms but also by informed parents, empowered teachers, and digitally confident communities,” he said.
Describing the initiative as more than just another awareness campaign, Inuwa said it represents the beginning of a stronger partnership between government and industry to raise a generation of Nigerians who are digitally skilled, responsible, and resilient.
He reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to working with Meta and other stakeholders to create a secure digital environment where innovation flourishes, opportunities are accessible to all, and every Nigerian can participate confidently in the digital economy.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who both pledged continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to formulate and implement policies that promote a safe, inclusive, and empowering digital environment for Nigerian youths.
