NITDA Director General Calls for Comprehensive Digital Skills Curriculum

In a bid to foster digital literacy and cultivate talent through collaboration, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has stressed the urgent need to review the existing school curriculum and develop a comprehensive one that incorporates digital skills at all educational levels.

According to Inuwa, this aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to create millions of jobs by leveraging digital technologies and achieving a digital literacy rate of 70% by 2027.

He made these statements during a meeting with the management team of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), led by its Executive Secretary, Professor Janaidu Ismail, at NITDA’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Director General underscored the importance of incorporating digital technology into curriculum design, content, and processes due to the evolution of technology.

“This disruptive technology has transformed how things are done worldwide, and Nigeria must not be left behind,” Inuwa stated.

 “We must lead in developing a competency-based, outcome-focused curriculum that addresses the demands of the 21st century. This will enable us to produce a skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of the Nigerian market and attracting investment from other countries. Integrating digital skills into the curriculum is crucial for national development and economic growth.”

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He further asserted that government policies and objectives, especially those related to sustainable development, 21st-century skills, the digital economy, creative arts, and digital technology, will create a pathway for nation-building.

Inuwa also explained that advancements have scaled up to meet the new skills , with digitalisation as the central focus of the curriculum to provide citizens with the required knowledge and skills for growth and development.

In his earlier remarks, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Ismail Janaidu, stated that their institution is primarily responsible for curriculum development at all levels and this cannot be done without the infusion of digital literacy as a critical area for any country’s development.

He noted that the visit aimed to scale up the existing relationship, partnership, and engagement, and to explore potential areas for collaboration towards national development.

Janaidu added that the institution is also responsible for promoting book development and local authorship for quality assurance, conducting educational research for public policy formulation and implementation, and developing Nigerian languages while promoting other languages to enhance education delivery and public use.

Professor Janaidu also commended NITDA for its significant contributions to advancing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) across Nigeria.

He applauded the Agency’s efforts, which span across almost all states, and highlighted the impact these initiatives have had on driving growth and development in the ICT sector.