Nigeria is intensifying efforts to close its digital skills gap following a new partnership between the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and Commit Technology & Consult Limited aimed at accelerating digital literacy nationwide.
The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, is expected to support the country’s target of achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, while strengthening citizens’ capacity to participate effectively in the digital economy.
The initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader digital transformation agenda led by Bosun Tijani, which places digital skills development at the centre of economic diversification, innovation, and job creation.
Under the partnership, both organisations will deliver structured digital skills training, certification, and civic education programmes targeted at millions of Nigerians. The programme is designed to train at least one million youths annually, with a long-term goal of reaching 20 million digitally literate and civically responsible youths by 2030.
Digital literacy drive to train 20 million youths by 2030
At the signing ceremony, David Akoji, Director of Special Duties and States Operations representing NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu, executed the agreement alongside Niran Oyekale, Executive Chairman of Commit Technology & Consult Limited.
Under the partnership, both organisations will deliver structured digital skills training, certification, and civic education programmes targeted at millions of Nigerians. The programme is designed to train at least one million youths annually, with a long-term goal of reaching 20 million digitally literate and civically responsible youths by 2030.
The initiative comes amid a widening digital skills gap in Nigeria, where access to foundational digital competencies remains uneven, particularly among young people and underserved communities. Bridging this gap is increasingly seen as critical to addressing youth unemployment and unlocking opportunities in remote work, entrepreneurship, and participation in the global digital marketplace.
The NOA describes the programme as a “transformational national initiative” that integrates digital literacy with civic education and national values, with a focus on promoting responsible digital citizenship and ethical technology use.
At the core of the rollout is the Future Proof Economy model, which combines technical training with civic responsibility. The framework is designed to equip participants with practical digital skills while preparing them for the demands of a rapidly evolving workforce and digitally connected society.
Implementation will begin with pilot programmes across six states representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, before scaling nationwide to all 36 states and 774 local government areas. As part of the rollout, Digital Literacy Centres will be established within NOA offices, serving as community-based hubs for training, certification, and digital engagement.
The programme will also feature nationwide awareness campaigns and sustained stakeholder engagement across government, development institutions, and local communities to drive adoption and impact.
Beyond skills development, the partnership is expected to support broader national priorities, including economic growth, digital governance, and youth empowerment. By improving employability, fostering entrepreneurship, and enhancing productivity, the initiative is positioned to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
As the country advances towards its 2027 digital literacy target, attention will turn to execution, particularly how effectively the programme scales across diverse communities and translates large-scale training into measurable economic outcomes.
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