Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have signed a resilience training agreement to carry out the Basic Digital Literacy for Rural Clusters in Northern Nigeria.
The programme, according to the promoters, is part of the efforts to empower vulnerable groups in rural clusters in Northern Nigeria with the digital skill-set required for the future of work and advanced learnings for the 21st century in Nigeria.
It is also meant to introduce learners in underserved communities and vulnerable groups in Northern Nigeria to digital literacy, with the intent of equipping them with the basic digital knowledge required to succeed in the 21st-century and the emerging new normal from the COVID19 pandemic.
DigitalTimesNG understands that the Basic Digital Literacy for Rural Clusters in Northern Nigeria program aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4 & 10 (No Poverty, Quality Education & Reduced Inequalities), and will commence in 10 states of Kwara, Benue, Nassarawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto, Kano, Plateau, and Jigawa States.
The investment in digital literacy for vulnerable people living in rural clusters in Northern Nigeria allows for the reduction in the poverty index by increasing employability of the beneficiaries and closing the digital skills gap of needed in the digital economy.
Designed to directly impact 1,000 beneficiaries, over a twelve-week period in ten rural clusters, across ten states in Northern Nigeria, the initiative is targeting 50% of the beneficiaries to be vulnerable women and girls (aged 8-18; 45-65), 30% being Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and 20% individuals of other vulnerable groups.
Diwura Oladepo, Executive Director at Tech4Dev, who spoke at the virtual media briefing, reiterated the need to increase the number of digital literate vulnerable populations and people living in underserved communities in Northern Nigeria.
In a welcome address she presented during the briefing, Diwura stated that “it has become pertinent, especially on the path of the new normal, to focus on digital literacy, allowing vulnerable populations to leverage technology for commerce, education, communication, improve their socio-economic recovery, pandemic resilience, and build a more prosperous future.”
Idongesit Udoh, Head of UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and Country Adviser, said that “Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan, Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Plan as well as Nigeria’s Digital Economy Strategy have identified digital skills as key to economic prosperity for all Nigerians. With COVID19, digital literacy has become a must-have.
“Hence, the UK Government is once again demonstrating timely support not only for Nigeria’s inclusive economic development but also in building effective COVID-19-related resilience. This project is already helping to close the digital divide, enable inclusive digital access and build communities’ resilience to current and future pandemics.”
The Digital Access Programme is a UK Government Prosperity Fund flagship initiative led by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).
The programme covers five countries: Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Udoh said the objective of the Programme is to catalyse affordable, inclusive, safe, and secure digital access for underserved or excluded populations, and to use increased digital inclusion as a basis for a more thriving local tech ecosystem, generating skilled jobs and innovative solutions for local development challenges.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), about 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030, a figure said to be due to increasing use of technology and automation of jobs.
Tech4Dev prepares people for the future of work by creating opportunities for decent work through technology-based training, which include coding skills, deep tech skills, employability skills and basic digital skills.
Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 and was established to empower African communities with digital skills that will bridge the gap of unskilled labour needed for the future of work.