The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has unveiled a groundbreaking program aimed at equipping 30 million young Nigerians with essential digital economy skills.
This ambitious partnership, formalized at the NYSC Secretariat in Abuja, seeks to bridge the digital divide and prepare the youth for success in an increasingly digital world. The initiative will provide practical training in critical areas such as software development, data analytics, cybersecurity, and digital marketing.
The goal is to reach 30 million Nigerian youths, including NYSC members, with the necessary skills for the digital economy by 2027. NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi highlighted the importance of digital literacy and the role of technology in enhancing productivity. He emphasized the integration of technology into the NYSC process, including experimenting with emerging technologies like blockchain to secure NYSC certificates and build digital skills among corps members.
“We have set up a team to work with your team to explore how you can infuse technology into the NYSC process and build digital skills capacity among corps members. Today, we are here on a bigger mission,” Abdullahi stated.
Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, praised the collaboration and stressed the importance of unity in achieving shared goals. The Director General of NYSC, Brig Gen YD Ahmed, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative and NYSC’s readiness to fully participate. “This process for us in NYSC is a very good one, and there is no doubt we will fully collaborate with NITDA to embrace the process,” he assured.
Victoria Ibiama
