The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed that developing a digitally skilled public workforce is critical to accelerating government reforms and unlocking the full potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across Nigeria’s public sector.
The Agency made the assertion during a Digital Skills Masterclass organised in partnership with Meta for selected officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, , who was represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, Olawumi Dejo, said the future of public service depends on equipping civil servants with the digital competencies needed to drive innovation and deliver citizen-focused services.
Inuwa noted that as Nigeria advances its digital economy agenda, the public service must evolve alongside technological developments by embracing emerging digital tools and strengthening workforce capabilities.
He explained that NITDA developed the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) to serve as a national benchmark for digital skills acquisition, ensuring Nigerians gain globally competitive competencies while addressing local developmental priorities.
According to him, the framework focuses on six key areas of digital competence: device and software operations, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, digital safety, and digital problem-solving.
He said the framework is designed to enhance the productivity of public servants, improve collaboration across government institutions, strengthen data security and support more efficient public service delivery.
The NITDA Director General stressed that true digital transformation is driven not merely by technology but by people with the right knowledge and skills to maximise its benefits.
“Technology on its own does not transform institutions. Sustainable transformation happens when people are empowered with the digital skills needed to rethink processes, improve productivity and deliver better services,” he said.
He urged civil servants to embrace lifelong learning, noting that the rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence and other disruptive technologies makes continuous upskilling and reskilling imperative for an effective and future-ready workforce.
Inuwa also encouraged participants to become digital champions within their respective organisations by sharing the knowledge acquired during the training with colleagues through a train-the-trainer model that would accelerate digital capacity building across government.
Highlighting NITDA’s achievements in public sector capacity development, he disclosed that the Agency, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has trained more than 53,000 civil servants in digital skills, describing the initiative as a significant milestone towards building an AI-ready public service.
He assured participants that NITDA remains committed to expanding digital learning opportunities and strengthening the capacity of government workers to support ongoing reforms, improve service delivery and harness the opportunities created by emerging technologies.
The Digital Skills Masterclass forms part of the Agency’s broader implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework and its strategic efforts to build the human capital required to power Nigeria’s digital economy.
Speaking at the event, Meta’s Public Policy Lead for Anglophone West Africa, Victoria Oloni, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation through its partnership with NITDA.
Oloni observed that government institutions have made significant progress in adopting digital technologies, citing innovations such as electronic salary payments and the increasing use of digital communication platforms for official engagements.
She, however, emphasised that the next phase should move beyond individual adoption of digital tools towards comprehensive institutional transformation that embeds technology into every aspect of governance.
According to her, digital transformation is an ongoing journey that requires continuous learning, innovation and collaboration. She explained that the masterclass was designed to equip participants with practical digital skills that would improve communication, operational efficiency and service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
She encouraged participants to fully utilise the opportunity provided by the training, noting that a digitally empowered public workforce is fundamental to building a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centred government.
The masterclass reflects the shared commitment of NITDA and Meta to strengthening Nigeria’s digital capacity and preparing the nation’s public institutions for an increasingly AI-driven future.