FG takes action to unlock opportunities in digital skills

The Federal Government announced on Thursday that it is working to establish the right conditions for business growth in sub-Saharan Africa’s $130 billion market for digital skills.

The largest obstacle to Nigeria’s goal of universal digital literacy, according to Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani, is not access but rather illiteracy.

On Thursday, the GIZ/Digital Transformation Center (DTC) hosted a dialogue on the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) in Abuja. The minister made this statement at the dialogue.

He asserts that “access to the technology that powers digital technology and its use is becoming more affordable and available.

“Literacy is the major issue. We used to discuss the accessibility gap for the Internet and mobile technology, but as the cost of these technologies declines, more and more of our population now has access.

“Since they have access, the issue is whether they are knowledgeable enough to exploit it.

“It is important that people are digitally literate or participate in the global economy for us to drive the prosperity that people want to see,” he continued.

The National Information Technology Development Agency’s (NITDA) Director General, Kashifu Abdullahi, also spoke, stating that the market offers tremendous investment opportunities, particularly for the private sector.


The DG said that by 2030, digital skills will be necessary for 230 occupations in Sub-Saharan Africa and 28 million positions in Nigeria, citing data from Statista and the International Finance Corporation.

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According to him, the government is working to close the digital literacy gap and provide Nigerians the tools they need to participate in the digital economy.

“In Sub-Saharan Africa, we need to retrain 230 million people, and to do that, we need to invest $130 billion. Thus, there is much work to be done. A market of $130 billion is not a small one, and the government cannot compete on its own.


“The value is being carried by the government, but it will be reaped by the private sector. Therefore, government is establishing the favorable conditions necessary for the private sector to generate that value.

The National Digital Literacy Framework was developed by the government in an effort to develop a training sector. The market will be opened up by creating that industry. We are currently doing that,” he continued.

A participatory procedure involving the private sector, civil society organizations, and international partners will be announced by Abdullahi.

He added that the goal of the digital literacy framework is to equip 95% of Nigerians with digital skills by 2030. This would be accomplished by enhancing access, developing skills, ensuring inclusive participation, and assuring job preparation.

The DG called for a reform of the school curriculum while pointing out that an illiterate is no longer someone who cannot read or write but rather somebody who cannot use digital gadgets. In order for everyone in Nigeria to be digitally literate, he stated, “this is a set stage for the education system to review curriculum from kindergarten to university.”