News Highlights:
- NITDA Launches Career Framework to Retain ICT Talent
- NITDA also unveils the Digital Champions Programme to Drive Innovation Across MDAs
Amid growing concerns over the mass departure of skilled professionals from Nigeria’s public sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is taking decisive steps to stem the tide with the launch of a new Digital Competence Framework and Career Progression Model.
Digital TimesNG understands that the initiative seeks to enhance the professional growth of ICT personnel within the civil service, making public sector roles more dynamic, competitive, and future-ready.
Announcing the initiative at the maiden edition of the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasised the agency’s commitment to making civil service careers more attractive and professionally fulfilling.
The conference, themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!,” was convened by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, and featured a session titled “Digital Transformation: Digital Skills for Civil Servants – Capacity Gaps and Future Readiness,” where the announcement was made.
Dr. Ahmed Tambawal, Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department at NITDA, who represented the Director General, said the framework was developed in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to address the long-standing challenges of stagnation and underutilisation of digital talent in government.
“Highly skilled professionals are often stuck in roles that don’t reflect their expertise, while their counterparts in the private sector benefit from clear advancement paths and continuous training,” Inuwa explained.
Already operational within NITDA, the framework is expected to be gradually deployed across other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). It is designed to offer structured career development pathways, including access to globally recognised certifications, which will not only retain top digital talent but also accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation.
As part of the broader agenda, NITDA also launched a Digital Champions Programme in collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service. The initiative identifies and empowers standout digital talents across MDAs, equipping them with advanced training to spearhead innovation within their organisations.
“These champions will drive digital change from within, promoting efficiency and fostering a culture of innovation across government,” Inuwa added.
He noted that the reforms come against the backdrop of the “Japa” phenomenon, the ongoing wave of skilled emigration, as many professionals seek better opportunities abroad, adding that with this dual-pronged approach, NITDA hopes to build an ICT-driven civil service that not only retains its best minds but is also poised to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.
“We are committed to developing a digital civil service that retains talent, encourages growth, and drives national development,” the NITDA boss stated.
The session also featured thought leaders including Permanent Secretary Faruk Yabo Yusuf (lead speaker), Kevin Cunnington, and Wumi Oghoetuoma-Jolomi.
Discussions focused on the need to rethink government operations in a digital era, not just by adopting new technologies but by transforming institutional culture, improving public service delivery, and making strategic use of data to meet citizens’ evolving expectations.