The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has intensified its drive to build an AI-ready public service, stressing that Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda will only succeed if civil servants are equipped with the skills required to drive innovation, improve service delivery and embrace emerging technologies.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, made the assertion during a Digital Skills Masterclass organised by the Agency in collaboration with Meta for selected officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
He was represented at the event by NITDA’s Director of Digital Development Services, Olawumi Dejo.
Addressing participants, Inuwa said Nigeria’s ambition to build a thriving digital economy depends on a public service that possesses the knowledge and competencies to adopt emerging technologies and modern governance practices.
He explained that NITDA developed the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) to provide a standardised roadmap for digital skills development across the country, ensuring that Nigerians acquire competencies aligned with international best practices while addressing local needs.
According to him, the framework is built around six core competency areas: device and software operations, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, digital safety, and problem-solving.
He noted that the framework would enhance the ability of public servants to effectively utilise digital technologies, safeguard government information, strengthen collaboration across MDAs and improve the delivery of public services.
Emphasising that technology alone cannot deliver lasting reforms, the NITDA Director General said investment in human capacity remains the foundation of successful digital transformation.
“Technology alone cannot transform institutions. Real transformation happens when people acquire the right digital skills to rethink processes, improve productivity and deliver better outcomes,” he said.
Inuwa described continuous learning as indispensable in an era of rapid technological advancement, particularly with the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence, urging civil servants to continuously upskill and reskill to remain effective.
He also encouraged participants to serve as change agents within their organisations by transferring the knowledge gained during the masterclass to their colleagues through a train-the-trainer approach that would accelerate digital capacity development across the public sector.
Highlighting the progress already made, the Director General disclosed that NITDA, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has trained more than 53,000 civil servants in digital skills, describing the initiative as a major step towards building an AI-ready and digitally competent public service.
He assured participants that the Agency would continue expanding digital learning opportunities to equip government workers with the skills needed to support ongoing reforms, enhance service delivery and position Nigeria to maximise the opportunities presented by emerging technologies.
The Digital Skills Masterclass forms part of NITDA’s broader implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework and its commitment to strengthening the human capital required to drive Nigeria’s digital economy.
In her remarks, Meta’s Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Victoria Oloni, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through its partnership with NITDA.
Oloni observed that the increasing adoption of digital tools across government—from electronic salary payments to the use of messaging platforms for official communication—demonstrates that the public service is steadily transitioning from analogue to digital operations.
She, however, noted that the next phase should focus on achieving institution-wide digital transformation rather than isolated adoption of technology by individuals.
According to her, digital transformation is a continuous journey that requires sustained learning, collaboration and openness to innovation. She explained that the masterclass was designed to provide participants with practical skills for leveraging digital technologies to improve communication, efficiency and service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Oloni urged participants to maximise the opportunity presented by the training, emphasising that a digitally empowered workforce remains essential to building a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centred public service.
