By Nkechi Eze
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged Nigerian educators to move beyond examination-focused teaching and equip students with practical digital skills capable of driving employment, innovation and economic growth.
Inuwa made the call at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja, where he emphasised that continuous learning, critical thinking and the ability to adapt to emerging technologies would be critical to success in the future workplace.
Drawing from his personal experience as an alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, the NITDA chief executive explained that digital skills training had played a significant role in his professional development, enabling him to transition from website development to network engineering.
He said the experience demonstrated the importance of technology education that goes beyond theoretical knowledge and examinations to equip learners with practical competencies applicable to real-life challenges.
Inuwa therefore urged instructors to prioritise hands-on training, problem-solving, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership, describing them as transferable skills that would help young Nigerians remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
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.
He noted that the projections reinforced the need for Nigerians to embrace lifelong learning, continuous upskilling and the effective use of emerging technologies to remain relevant in the changing world of work.
According to him, digital literacy has become as fundamental as reading, writing and numeracy, with significant implications for national development, economic competitiveness and inclusive growth.
The NITDA boss linked investment in digital skills and human capital development to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030, stressing that a technology-ready workforce would be essential 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 the initiatives, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA had partnered with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course, an initiative designed to expose students across disciplines to essential technology competencies beyond specialised computing programmes.
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 skills.
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.
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 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 urged Cisco Networking Academy to expand its practical training programmes and collaboration with colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates’ employability.
According to Alausa, stronger 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, while expressing confidence in Nigerian technology entrepreneurs and reiterating the ministry’s commitment to adopting homegrown software solutions.
The minister also welcomed proposals to integrate digital literacy into General Studies courses in tertiary institutions, noting that such an approach would enable students from different academic backgrounds to acquire essential technology skills.
On digital inclusion, Alausa 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 cost barriers to digital learning.
Alausa said education, innovation and youth empowerment remained central to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, urging young Nigerians to embrace continuous learning, practise consistently and apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems.
Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, disclosed that Cisco Networking Academy had reached approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students since its establishment in 1997.
Saeed said the programme had reached about 30 million students across 105 countries globally, with approximately 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 competencies for young people seeking to succeed in the modern workforce.
Saeed also 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 crucial to bridging the digital divide.
The programme also highlighted initiatives to increase women’s participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates.
