Nigeria Sets Ambitious Goal to Train 50 Million Citizens in Digital Skills by 2027 – NITDA DG

In the heart of Washington D.C., far from the dusty roads of rural Nigeria, a powerful message echoed through the halls of the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings.

On the stage of the Civil Society Policy Forum, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), spoke passionately about the country’s ambitious target to train 50 million Nigerians in digital skills by 2027, a move aimed at building Africa’s largest digitally empowered workforce and accelerating the country’s transition into a knowledge-driven economy.

He also spoke about how renewable energy and technology could together unlock a new era of inclusive growth for millions of Nigerians.

To Inuwa, renewable energy isn’t just about clean power, it’s the spark that ignites opportunity.

“Renewable energy is not the destination,” he said. “It is a catalyst. When there is power, connectivity follows, and that connectivity triggers true transformation.”

When Power Meets Possibility

Drawing vivid connections between energy and opportunity, Inuwa painted a picture of how technology, powered by renewable energy, is changing the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

A farmer, once at the mercy of unpredictable rainfall, now uses AI-driven tools to track soil health and crop patterns, doubling his yield and income.
A woman in a remote village runs a digital business from her phone, selling handmade goods across Nigeria.

A young graduate, once preparing to migrate to the city, now works for a global firm remotely, earning in dollars from the comfort of his hometown.

“A farmer equipped with a simple app can double his income, send his child to school, and employ others,” Inuwa noted. “A young person with internet access doesn’t need to migrate to Abuja or Lagos, he can work from his village and still thrive.”

Tying Innovation to National Vision

Inuwa tied these examples to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes sustainability, inclusivity, and diversification.

He explained that Nigeria’s Digital Economy Strategy, under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, rests on five key pillars, knowledge, policy, infrastructure, innovation and entrepreneurship, and trade.

For NITDA, this vision expands into eight strategic pillars, focusing on digital literacy, research, cybersecurity, innovation, and partnerships.

One of the boldest initiatives, he revealed, is the integration of digital literacy into Nigeria’s education system, from kindergarten to university.

In collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, NITDA aims to ensure that every Nigerian child grows up not just as a student, but as a digital citizen.

Digital competency, he added, is now a requirement for employment and promotion in the civil service, a move designed to accelerate Nigeria’s digital readiness.

“Our vision is clear, our journey is set, and our resolve is stronger than ever,” Inuwa said. “We invite everyone to join us in building a digitally empowered and prosperous Nigeria.”

The agency’s target is bold: train 50 million Nigerians by 2027, equipping them with the skills to fuel the country’s transformation.

Global Partners, Shared Goals

On the same panel, Fowzia Hassan, Senior Operations Officer for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group, echoed Inuwa’s sentiments, unveiling the Bank’s ambitious Mission 300 (M300), an initiative to connect 300 million people to energy by 2030.

“Access to energy has always been central to our development agenda,” Hassan explained. “But with M300, we’ve set a clear target, a deadline, and the resources to make it happen.”

She highlighted that the initiative unites efforts across the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA, leveraging innovative financing, risk-sharing facilities, and partnerships to reach underserved communities.

Empowering Women in the Energy Transition

Beyond infrastructure, Hassan emphasized the need to close the gender gap in Africa’s energy landscape.
Citing IRENA data showing that women make up 32% of the renewable energy workforce, mostly in non-technical roles, she called for stronger policies to enable women’s participation in leadership and technical fields.

“Women are vital consumers, producers, and decision-makers in energy,” she said. “Yet they face barriers ranging from finance to education and workplace inclusion.”

Among ongoing initiatives are the DAIRS programme in Nigeria, designed to mobilize over $1 billion for mini-grids and solar systems, and the Women in Energy Network Africa (WEN-Africa), which has already created 57 jobs for women, with a goal of reaching 4,000 within three years.

A Shared Vision for an Inclusive Future

As the session drew to a close, one message resonated across all voices:
Energy and technology are no longer separate paths, they are twin engines driving Africa’s growth story.

Inuwa’s words lingered, a reminder that the power to transform Nigeria’s rural communities lies not just in megawatts or bandwidth, but in the people ready to use them.

“When power meets connectivity,” he said, “hope becomes reality.”

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