FG Partners with NITDA to Train Over 30 Million Youth in Digital Literacy

Maryam Aminu

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at providing digital literacy training to over 30 million Nigerian youth.

This major announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, during an interview in Abuja in celebration of International Youth Day.

Represented by Prince Momoh Olugbenga, the Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Dr. Ibrahim highlighted the importance of equipping young Nigerians with essential digital skills to thrive in the global digital economy.

She emphasized that this initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to empowering the youth with the knowledge and tools needed to fully participate in the digital landscape.

The Minister also noted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has introduced a volunteer community known as Digital Onboarders, through an ongoing partnership with Mind The Gap Nigeria. This community is dedicated to enhancing youth productivity by developing their digital skills.

“President Bola Tinubu is keenly aware of the growing importance of the digital economy, he has dedicated a Ministry to coordinate efforts in this area. Our Ministry has been actively seeking partnerships and opportunities to connect as many youth as possible to the learning experiences that will equip them for success in the digital economy.” She said

Dr. Ibrahim also addressed the challenge of youth unemployment, noting that an estimated 75% of job seekers would have better chances of securing employment in the evolving Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector.

However, she pointed out that MSMEs are facing a decline in survival rates due to a lack of relevant skills to leverage the emerging opportunities in the digital economy.

To address this, the Ministry has launched the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), a platform designed to equip young people with the skills necessary to participate actively in salvaging businesses and tapping into the opportunities within the country’s Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) market.

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”