By Saminu Ibrahim
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged Nigerian educators to shift from examination-focused teaching to practical digital skills development to prepare young people for employment, innovation and economic growth.
Inuwa made the call at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja.
He emphasised the need for education that equips learners with problem-solving abilities, critical thinking and the capacity to adapt to emerging technologies.
The NITDA chief, an alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, said practical digital training played a significant role in shaping his professional career, enabling him to transition from website development to network engineering.
He explained that technology education should extend beyond theoretical knowledge and examinations to equip students with competencies they could apply to real-life challenges.
According to him, instructors must prioritise hands-on training, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership to ensure that Nigerian graduates remain competitive in an evolving global economy.
Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, Inuwa said technological advancements were projected to create 170 million jobs globally by 2030 while displacing approximately 92 million existing roles.
He said the projections highlighted the importance of lifelong learning, continuous upskilling and the effective use of emerging technologies in preparing Nigerians for the future of work.
Inuwa described digital literacy as a fundamental requirement for national development, economic competitiveness and inclusive growth, adding that digital competence had become as important as reading, writing and numeracy.
He noted that Nigeria’s ability to build a digitally skilled workforce would determine its capacity to innovate, improve productivity and compete effectively in the global economy.
The NITDA boss linked investment in digital skills and human capital development to President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of growing the Nigerian economy to $1 trillion by 2030, stressing that a technology-ready workforce would be critical to achieving the target.
He disclosed that NITDA had partnered with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course, aimed at exposing students across different disciplines to essential technology skills.
Inuwa also highlighted government efforts to integrate digital literacy into formal education through curriculum reforms, teacher training and partnerships with educational institutions.
He commended Tinubu for prioritising human capital development and praised the Minister of Education for supporting initiatives designed to equip Nigerians with relevant digital competencies.
He further acknowledged Cisco Networking Academy’s contribution to digital skills development in Nigeria, particularly through partnerships with federal universities and other academic institutions.
Also speaking at the conference, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to digital literacy and technology-driven education, describing digital skills development as essential to preparing Nigerian youths for the future of work.
Alausa called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, Cisco, educational institutions and development partners to expand access to digital learning and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital.
He 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 supporting teacher training and the deployment of digital learning resources.
The minister urged Cisco Networking Academy to expand practical training and partnerships with colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates’ employability.
He said stronger partnerships between training institutions and employers would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace requirements.
Alausa identified practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications as essential components of digital skills programmes, adding that the ministry remained committed to adopting homegrown software solutions.
He also welcomed proposals to integrate digital literacy into General Studies courses in tertiary institutions, noting that the initiative would broaden students’ exposure to technology beyond specialised computing disciplines.
On digital inclusion, the minister 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 to provide zero-rated data access to educational content, helping to reduce the cost of accessing digital learning resources.
Alausa said education, innovation and youth empowerment remained central to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, urging young Nigerians to embrace continuous learning and apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems.
Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, said Cisco Networking Academy had reached approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students since its establishment in 1997.
Globally, Saeed said the programme had reached approximately 30 million students across 105 countries, with about 6.5 million active students in the 2026 fiscal year.
Figures presented at the conference showed that the programme had approximately 338,000 active students, 696 instructors and partnerships with 369 academic institutions in Nigeria.
Saeed identified cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and software programming as critical areas of competence for young people seeking to succeed in the modern workforce.
He stressed 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 essential to bridging the digital divide.
The programme has also prioritised efforts to increase women’s participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates.
