The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Federal Ministry of Education have called for a stronger emphasis on practical digital skills, industry-relevant training and continuous learning to prepare Nigerian youths for emerging employment opportunities and the demands of a technology-driven economy.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, and the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made the call at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja, where they stressed the need to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace requirements.
Inuwa challenged educators to move beyond examination-focused teaching and equip students with practical competencies that can translate into employment, innovation and economic growth.
He said the ability to learn continuously, solve complex problems and adapt to technological change would increasingly determine success in the future workplace.
Drawing from his personal experience, the NITDA chief executive, a proud alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, explained how digital skills training shaped his professional journey, creating opportunities that enabled him to transition from website development to network engineering.
He said his experience demonstrated that technology education must go beyond theoretical knowledge and examinations to develop competencies that learners can apply to real-life challenges.
Inuwa urged instructors to prioritise hands-on training, critical thinking, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership, noting that these transferable skills would help young Nigerians remain competitive as technology continues to transform industries.
Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, he said technological advancement was projected to create 170 million jobs globally by 2030 while displacing approximately 92 million existing roles.
According to him, the projections underscore the urgency of lifelong learning, continuous upskilling and the effective use of emerging technologies to remain relevant in an increasingly digital economy.
Beyond preparing individuals for employment, Inuwa described digital literacy as a foundation for national development, economic competitiveness and inclusive growth.
He noted that digital competence had become as fundamental as reading, writing and numeracy, stressing that Nigeria’s capacity to innovate, improve productivity and compete globally would depend significantly on the development of a skilled workforce.
The NITDA director-general linked investment in digital skills and human capital to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030, emphasising that a technology-ready workforce would be central to achieving the target.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s efforts to integrate digital literacy into formal education through curriculum reforms, teacher training and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
As part of these efforts, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA had collaborated with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course, an initiative designed to broaden students’ exposure to technology beyond specialised computing disciplines.
He commended President Tinubu for prioritising human capital development and praised the Minister of Education for supporting initiatives aimed at equipping Nigerians with relevant digital competencies.
Inuwa also acknowledged Cisco Networking Academy’s contribution to digital skills development in Nigeria, particularly through its partnerships with federal universities and other academic institutions.
He urged instructors to ensure that students graduate with the practical knowledge and problem-solving abilities required by employers, entrepreneurs and the wider economy.
Speaking at the conference, Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to digital literacy and technology-driven education, describing digital skills development as critical to preparing Nigerian youths for the future of work.
He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, Cisco, educational institutions and development partners to expand access to digital learning and strengthen the country’s human capital.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had updated the national curriculum to introduce digital technology at the primary school level, with NITDA and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) supporting teacher training and the deployment of digital learning resources.
Alausa commended Inuwa for his contributions to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda, noting that technology was reshaping education and virtually every sector of the economy.
He also urged Cisco Networking Academy to strengthen practical training and expand its collaboration with colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates’ employability.
According to the minister, effective partnerships between training institutions and employers would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations.
He advocated practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications as essential components of digital skills programmes. He also expressed confidence in Nigerian technology entrepreneurs and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to adopting homegrown software solutions.
Alausa welcomed proposals to integrate digital literacy into General Studies courses in tertiary institutions, saying the approach could expose students across different disciplines to essential technology skills.
On digital inclusion, he called for deliberate efforts to extend learning opportunities to girls, persons with disabilities, rural communities and financially disadvantaged learners.
He further disclosed that the ministry had collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to provide zero-rated data access to educational content, helping to reduce cost barriers that often prevent learners from accessing digital resources.
Alausa said education, innovation and youth empowerment remained central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, urging young participants to embrace continuous learning, practise consistently and apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems.
Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, highlighted the scale of Cisco Networking Academy’s contribution to digital education, reporting that approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students had been reached since the programme began in 1997.
Saeed said the programme had reached approximately 30 million students across 105 countries globally, with about 6.5 million active students in fiscal year 2026.
In Nigeria, figures presented at the conference indicated that the programme had approximately 338,000 active students, 696 instructors and partnerships with 369 academic institutions.
He identified cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and software programming as essential areas of competence for young people seeking to succeed in the modern workforce.
Saeed also underscored the importance of digital infrastructure, accessible education and industry-relevant training, noting that collaboration among government, educational institutions, international organisations and the private sector was vital to bridging the digital divide.
The programme has also highlighted efforts to increase women’s participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates, reinforcing the need for inclusive digital education and stronger pathways from training to the workplace.