NITDA - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Philip Daniel Yatai
May, Wed, 2025

Children’s Day: Waterlight, NITDA, others partner to boost digital literacy

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By Naomi Sharang

Waterlight Save Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other NGOs have unveiled a strategic partnership to advance digital literacy among children and youths in the country.

The groups who converged on Abuja on Tuesday to celebrate the 2025 Children’s Day, all assured of digital education for Nigerian children.

Founder, Waterlight Save Initiative, Dr Ero Ibhafidon who acknowledged that there were challenges in the education sector, said that efforts are underway to ensure that every child is not left behind and every child gets basic education.

He said that children need to be trained on skills acquisition and not just formal education.

“We are not limiting our efforts to the classroom alone, but also skill acquisitions is also something that we want to start promoting, which we’ve already started.

“We want to take it up to the next level in digital education,” he said.

On the alarming rate of out-of-school children, Ibhafidon cited the words of late Prof. Obafemi Awolowo which is…

“If you ignore the children of the poor, then indirectly you are not protecting the peace of your own children in the future”.

Ibhafidon added that “So we believe that every child needs one or two skills in order to get going in what they need to get in life.

“They should learn not just skills of classroom learning, but they should learn different skills for themselves.

“The world is getting into a digital space. There are so many digital literacies that we should learn from home and also get educated from within our neighbourhood as well,” he said.

He said that his organisation was partnering with NITDA because we believe that technology is the way forward and NITDA is in charge of technology as far as the country is concerned.

Also speaking, Iklima Musa, Special Assistant on Strategic Partnerships to the Director-General of NITDA, Malam Kashifu Inuwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to growing the ‘next generation of innovators’.

She said that NITDA, through the implementation of its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2024 – 2027, has developed the National Digital Literacy Framework.

“This is meant to train Nigerians, or we want to achieve a percentage of digital literacy of Nigerians at 70 per cent; not just Nigerians, but also children.

“This is because we want them to have the competence and the proficiency for them to use digital technologies.

“But beyond the basic skills, the knowledge and the skills that we require them to have for children specifically, the framework has outlined digital safety and ethical awareness”.

She explained that this was so that children could be able to protect themselves while they are online and offline.

“Our children must be able to recognise harmful content and also be able to report inappropriate behaviours online and this is basically because we really want to at the same time, enlighten them, empower them and invest in them,” Musa said.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Sunday and Omoikhere Oriaran Foundation, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, said there was the need to build children’s hope for a better Nigeria.

“The future belongs to them. And if the future belongs to them, we have to nurture them and get them ready for that future.

“We have to ensure that they are ready to take over from us. Children need to be celebrated. They are pure gifts from God Almighty,” she said.

She said that children ought to be celebrated, adding that that was why the foundation set out to commemorate Children’s Day.

“We are celebrating the day with children from the orphanage; we have our orphanage children, they are all here.

“We said let them come out, mingle with children, both of the high and mighty in the society.

“The children from the orphanage aspire to be their best but are not given the platform.

“And what we strive to do as the foundation, is to give them that foundation to excel and to be themselves, to use their talent, to just explore their world and give the best they can”.

She urged governments and well-spirited individuals to contribute their quota to the fight against out-of-school syndrome.

Some of the children who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) expressed delight at the activities lined up.

Emmanuella Onyema, said she was grateful to the organisers while calling on government to improve on the quality of education. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

NITDA warns against fake Google play store

Ismail Abdulaziz
Apr, Sat, 2025

Science & Tech

NITDA warns against fake Google play store

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By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued a public advisory warning Nigerians about a fraudulent website impersonating the Google Play Store.

Mrs Hadiza Umar, Head of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, made this known on Friday in Abuja.

Umar stated that the fake website was distributing a new malware strain known as the Play Praetor Trojan.

“Cybercriminals are using fraudulent websites designed to mimic the Google Play Store to lure victims into downloading malicious applications,” she said.

She explained that the fake Play Store links were being circulated through various social engineering tactics, including phishing emails, malicious advertisements, and SMS messages.

According to Umar, once the fake application is installed, the Play Praetor Trojan gives attackers unauthorised access to the victim’s device.

“This access can lead to data theft, credential harvesting, financial fraud, remote control of the device, and further malware deployment,” she warned.

She urged the public to download apps only from the official Google Play Store or other trusted sources.

Umar also advised users to verify app developers, read reviews before installation, regularly update their devices and apps to patch vulnerabilities, and use reputable mobile security solutions to detect and block threats.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

NITDA, UK mulls building resilient national cybersecurity architecture

Tosin Kolade
Mar, Tue, 2025

Science & Tech

NITDA, UK mulls building resilient national cybersecurity architecture

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By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the United Kingdom are partnering on the UK/Nigeria Inward CyberTrade Mission to build a National Cybersecurity Architecture.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, at the meeting with some UK delegates on Monday in Abuja, said that President Bola Tinubu was committed to economic reforms and transformation, which digitisation could drive.

Inuwa noted that their Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, would enhance the digitisation of the country by ensuring a digitally literate populace who are abreast of cybersecurity concerns.

He said the Federal Government was working towards embedding cybersecurity in every aspect of general activities, adding that 95 per cent of cyber breaches were as a result of human errors.

“We need to educate both the users and operators on cybersecurity, which is part of what we do and we have a target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy level now.

“We are looking at building expertise and we are working on training our people on how to safeguard our digital space,” he said.

He added that they were conducting some research on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, Robotics and additive manufacturing.

Inuwa explained that as emerging technologies evolved, there was need for cybersecurity to also evolve.

“We need to evolve in the way we talk about cybersecurity and the way we secure the system we are building,” he said.

He added that in the past the use of AI never posed a threat but presently it required explainability to avoid misuse of the technology.

Inuwa added that issues about cybersecurity was a global concern and addressing it would require strategic partnerships and working as a global ecosystem to gain cyber diplomacy.

He added that it was collaborating with other countries who would be working with local businesses to build security systems according to Nigeria’s cyber landscape.

Mr Mark Smithson, Country Director, Department of Business and Trade (DBT), UK, said the relationship between Nigeria and the UK was valued at 7.5 billion pounds and it was committed to continue strengthening it through building safe cyber spaces.

“The UK remains firmly committed to supporting Nigeria in tackling cyber security challenges and harnessing the opportunities of the digital age as global threads evolve.

“Our partnership is more crucial than ever in ensuring a safe and resilient cyberspace for businesses, governments and citizens alike.

“The UK is proud to bring world class expertise in cyber security to Nigeria, from cutting-edge technology, to capacity building initiatives because our strong track record in cyber resilience, threat intelligence and innovation presents valuable opportunity.

“We look forward to expanding our cooperation, sharing knowledge, deepening our bilateral trade and building a secure digital future together,” Smithson said.

Dr Lawan Mohammed, Director, Cybersecurity, said the country would need expertise collaboration to build a strong cybersecurity infrastructure, especially on the effective implementation of cybersecurity frameworks.

Other areas of expertise intervention, he mentioned were in building capacity of cybersecurity experts, which, he said, were about 8,300 and were insufficient to address cyber threats across the country.

He added that the Federal Government would require expertise to develop threat intelligence, identify vulnerabilities, preserve Public Key Infrastructure and a resilient National Cybersecurity Architecture, among other areas.

Mr Ross Gill, another member of the delegation, recognised that there are growing threats across the globe, saying that partnerships and sharing best practices could help build better defenses. (NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by Christiana Fadare

Exploring Nigeria’s digital literacy and NITDA’s 2027 plan

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Thu, 2024

Science & Tech

Exploring Nigeria’s digital literacy and NITDA’s 2027 plan

754 total views today

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Digital literacy has become a cornerstone for economic growth and social inclusion in the 21st century.

Countries like South Korea and Estonia have set global benchmarks with robust frameworks and near-universal internet access, while Nigeria struggles to bridge the digital divide.

These challenges include infrastructural deficits, limited internet penetration, and high costs of digital tools.

When compared to South Korea and Estonia, the gap in digital literacy becomes evident.

Both countries boast modern infrastructure and comprehensive integration of digital skills into their education systems.

Estonia, for instance, incorporates e-Governance and digital learning from early education, fostering inclusivity and efficiency in its digital economy.

On the other hand, Nigeria faces some obstacles, such as unreliable electricity, limited broadband access, and a growing disparity between urban and rural communities where basic digital infrastructure is scarce.

To address these challenges, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) launched the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0 earlier this year.

Spanning 2024 to 2027, the initiative is designed to enhance IT skills among Nigerians and foster a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous digital Nigeria.

Aligning with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s broader vision, SRAP focuses on eight strategic pillars.

These include; fostering digital literacy, cultivating talent, promoting innovation, and building robust technological and policy frameworks among others.

Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, recently underscored the agency’s prioritisation of digital literacy and talent cultivation, noting that these efforts reinforce other SRAP objectives.

He aligned this vision with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to accelerate economic diversification through industrialisation, digitisation, and innovation.

“This presents a significant opportunity for Nigeria to emerge as a global digital talent powerhouse, especially with its young population combined with increasing digital engagement,” Inuwa said.

He cited a Korn Ferry report that predicts a global talent shortage of 85 million by 2030, potentially costing $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual revenue.

He also referenced a 2022 PwC report, ‘Nigerian Brain Exports: The Optimal Path to Growing the Nigerian Economy’, which shows the country’s potential to lead in exporting digital skills and services.

To achieve these ambitious goals, NITDA launched the Digital Literacy for All Initiative (DL4ALL) to ensure universal digital literacy by 2027.

The programme seeks to equip Nigerians with essential digital skills for education, employment, and safe online navigation.

“DL4ALL is geared towards communicating, collaborating effectively using digital tools, and developing the digital fluency required for many in-demand jobs,” Inuwa added.

Recognising the vast rural-urban digital divide, NITDA partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train 30 million Nigerians, particularly youth, in digital skills.

Corps members are integral to the initiative’s success, delivering training across the nation’s 774 Local Government Areas.

The pilot phase of the programme was floated in 12 states, which included Kebbi, Jigawa, Gombe, Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, Cross River, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Niger and the FCT.

In spite of these efforts, experts highlight the gaps that persist.

Dr Niran Oyekale, Executive Chairman of Commit Technology and Consult Limited, identified a disconnect between educational outcomes and labour market demands.

“There is inadequate integration of digital literacy in the educational curriculum at all levels of Nigeria’s education system,” he noted.

Oyekale proposed adopting the Future-Proof Economy (FPE) Model, which targets the training and certification of 70 million Nigerians by 2027.

The expert believes that legislative and policy reforms are needed to promote digital literacy, including the establishment of a Nigeria Digital Literacy Management Office (NDLMO).

These reforms would involve drafting an Executive Bill to formalise the NDLMO and advance digital literacy and technologies.

“Inclusion of digital literacy modules at primary, secondary, and tertiary education levels is essential, along with updating national learning standards to meet 21st-century demands.

“There is also a need for digital literacy to be incorporated into the West African Examination Council, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Direct Entry admissions, and Postgraduate admissions,” Oyekale said.

Similarly, technology expert, Jide Awe, emphasised the importance of addressing structural challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure and insufficient public awareness of digital literacy’s benefits.

“Digital literacy is the foundation for participating in a digital economy, and for a country like Nigeria, we should have 80-90 per cent of the populace who are digitally literate to tap into the opportunities of the digital economy,” he stated.

Data analyst Chinemerem Ndubisi shared similar sentiments, pointing out that many rural communities lack access to electricity and internet connectivity, essential for digital learning.

According to him, the average Nigerian does not have access to laptop, good internet and steady electricity that facilitate the learning of digital skills.

“2027 is a short time and for the government to embark on the goal there should be a plan and timeline to provide necessary infrastructure.

“There are rural communities that don’t have access to electricity, internet coverage and connectivity, these people should be carried along so that there are no gaps in ensuring digital inclusion.”

In conclusion, Nigeria’s journey towards digital literacy is ambitious but laden with challenges.

Stakeholders agree that addressing infrastructural deficits, aligning educational curricula with labour market demands, and fostering public-private partnerships are crucial for success.

With a data-driven and inclusive approach, Nigeria can harness its youthful population to bridge the global talent gap, drive sustainable growth, and position itself as a leader in the digital economy. (NANFeatures)

**If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.