TECHNOLOGY
The Federal Government has taken a major step in its digital transformation agenda with the successful rollout of the Digital Literacy for All workforce programme, reaching over 45,000 civil servants per course across the federal civil service.
Implemented by the National Information Technology Development Agency in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the programme offers four foundational modules: Digital Awareness; Using Computers and Mobile Devices; Digital Content Creation, Communication and Collaboration; and Digital Safety and Security. Enrolments ranged from 45,813 to 54,377 learners per course, covering an estimated 65 to 75 per cent of the Federal Civil Service workforce. Completion rates across the modules ranged from 38.1 per cent to 44.6 per cent, with higher engagement in advanced modules, reflecting improved digital readiness and deeper skill uptake.
Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA, Hadiza Umar, said in a statement on Thursday that the programme has provided tens of thousands of civil servants with foundational digital competencies, supporting the emergence of a reliable pipeline for intermediate and role-specific digital skills development across ministries, departments, and agencies.
Institutional leadership and internal coordination were highlighted as decisive factors in learning outcomes. While large agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Defence led in overall enrolments and completions, several smaller institutions achieved completion rates exceeding 70 per cent, demonstrating the impact of dedicated digital literacy champions and consistent performance monitoring.
Speaking during a courtesy visit and award presentation at OHCSF, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa said the partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy has enabled civil servants to access high-quality digital learning with minimal financial barriers. He added that the programme would provide a progression pathway into advanced areas such as networking, cybersecurity, data fundamentals, programming, and emerging technologies starting in 2026.
With the foundational phase of DL4ALL firmly established, NITDA plans to advance from basic digital literacy to job-relevant and role-based skills, institutionalise the Digital Literacy Champion model across MDAs, and strengthen monitoring through the national DL4ALL digital dashboard, supporting civil servants towards certification-ready digital competencies. The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s ambition to attain at least 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and position the public service as a more efficient, technology-driven, and citizen-centred institution.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS PAPER
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