News Highlights:
- Fifty unemployed Nigerian youths completed a four-week intensive digital bootcamp
- The initiative supports Nigeria’s national goal of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027
Fifty young unemployed Nigerians have successfully completed a four-week intensive digital skills bootcamp under the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, where they received practical training in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and IT Essentials.
The programme, jointly organised by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Cisco, took place at NITDA’s South West Zonal Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Representing the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, at the closing ceremony, Mrs. Chioma Okee-Agugwo, Head of the South West Zonal Office, underscored the significance of the initiative to Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“This is not just a closing ceremony. It is the launchpad for new journeys—anchored in digital knowledge and powered by innovation,” she stated.
According to the Director General, the DL4ALL initiative is a strategic component of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), with particular emphasis on Digital Literacy, Emerging Technologies, and Youth Empowerment.
It is also in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which promotes economic diversification through digitisation, innovation, and skills acquisition.
Inuwa further explained that DL4ALL reflects Nigeria’s broader commitment to digital inclusion, ensuring that no one is excluded from the opportunities of the digital economy.
It contributes to the national objective of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, a target set by the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
This vision seeks to equip millions of Nigerians with the competencies needed to excel in an increasingly technology-driven global landscape.
He further emphasized the importance of empowering youth with globally relevant skills. “They are no longer just consumers of technology. They are creators, innovators, and future employers,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that throughout the bootcamp, participants engaged in hands-on learning experiences designed to build both technical proficiency and digital leadership capabilities.
“This is only the beginning,” he stated. “Through our zonal strategy, we are bringing innovation closer to local communities. This is how we democratise access and unlock Nigeria’s full digital potential.”
Inuwa expressed appreciation to Cisco for delivering high-impact training and called on stakeholders to continue investing in partnerships, people, and platforms that drive digital inclusion.
He asserted that the newly certified participants are now equipped to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s digital economy—armed with the skills to build solutions, secure infrastructure, and launch tech ventures that solve real-world problems.
At the end of the bootcamp, participants demonstrated their knowledge through impressive presentations that showcased the integration of skills acquired across Data Science, AI, and IT Essentials.
Many spoke passionately about how the programme had expanded their technical competence and sparked a drive to create job opportunities—not only for themselves but also for others—as entrepreneurs and digital solution providers in their communities.
