The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Jibril Baba Ndace, has articulated the organization’s commitment to collaborating with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in enhancing digital literacy across the nation.
The collaboration aims to advance content development in indigenous languages, thereby ensuring broader access to and participation in the digital landscape.
Mr. Ndace, revealed this initiative during a courtesy visit with his management team to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, held in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.
“I am here as a partner and I am interested in deepening the partnership I inherited as Director General. One of the challenges that we face as a nation is the issue of fake news, misinformation and disinformation. We want to partner with you so that we would be able to consistently tell not only the Nigerian story but the African story,” Ndace said.
Ndace emphasized the pivotal role of the partnership in fostering awareness about safe and responsible internet usage, countering the spread of misinformation and fake news aimed at misleading Nigerians.
Additionally, he highlighted VON’s commitment to generating programs geared towards enhancing digital literacy and skill acquisition among Nigerians.
Mr. Ndace emphasized that VON, across its diverse platforms, is dedicated to showcasing the inspiring narratives of Nigerian citizens who are achieving excellence in various fields, thereby bringing pride to the nation.
“Our job at VON is to consistently tell the Nigerian story. What NITDA does here, we will let Nigerians and the world know. One of the things I am proud at NITDA is the opportunities you give to younger Nigerians. These stories need to be told, and I am happy you are already doing that.
“The negative narratives about Nigeria and Africa that you hear are not true or overexaggerated. We are changing the narrative by telling stories about millions of Nigerians in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other parts of the world who are doing great things. Many developed countries cannot survive without Nigerians, especially in IT, medicine, and other critical areas,” he emphasized.
The Director-General of VON expressed his gratitude to the NITDA DG for his invaluable efforts in mentoring and fostering opportunities for young Nigerians to thrive within the ICT ecosystem.
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He emphasized the significance of digital literacy in enabling both individuals and nations to prosper in the swiftly evolving ICT landscape, highlighting the imperative of strengthening the ongoing collaboration between the two agencies.
In response, the DG of NITDA, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, highlighted that by leveraging the content focused on the digital economy, broadcasted through Voice of Nigeria, the government can effectively engage and empower underserved and marginalized citizens across the nation, thereby boosting digital literacy and skill development.
Inuwa emphasized that such content would play a pivotal role in bridging the digital gap within the country, aligning perfectly with the inclusive vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its Digital Nigeria for All agenda.
The NITDA boss reiterated that a unified commitment to collaboration would significantly contribute to the realization of mutual objectives, fostering the growth of Nigeria’s digital economy and media landscape.
He further highlighted that this collaboration would facilitate the implementation of key initiatives such as the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and the comprehensive blueprint outlined by the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani. These efforts are aimed at achieving the ambitious goal of attaining 70 percent digital literacy by the end of 2027.
