NITDA Flags Off Digital Literacy for All Initiative
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has flagged off the Digital Literacy for All initiative.
At the ceremony in Minna, Niger State, the Director General of the Agency, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the initiative is expected to empower Ninety Five Percent of Nigerians with Digital Literacy by the year 2030.
In the contemporary digital world, various social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are mainly used for positive engagements.
However, due to lack of digital literacy which emphasises digital culture and critical thinking, many Nigerians either use the platforms negatively or are being duped.
The Director General NITDA, Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said to bridge the gap, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Agency to come up with National Literacy Framework.
He said as part of the framework, the Digital Literacy for All which is a pilot scheme for twelve states would provide Nigerians regardless of their age or social status the basic knowledge in Information, Data Literacy, and safety on line.
Mr Inuwa Abdullahi explained that to achieve the goal, NITDA would use the numerical strength of the Youth Corps members under the NYSC.
“In every State we will have 80 Corps members. We will give extensive training we want each Corps member to atleast train Sixty Nigerians every month”
The Director General of the NYSC Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed stated that since inception, the scheme has remained a greater asset and unifying factor in the country.
He described Digital Literacy as a tool that plays a vital role as it provides greater access to information and, promote innovation and enhances productivity in various Areas.
The Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said the State would use digital literacy to reach out to out of school children.
In their separate remarks, the Minister of State for Youth Development Mr Ayodele Olawande
and the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Communicatios Innovation and Digital Economy Faruk Yabo promised to contribute their quota to the success of the new initiative.
ALIYU MUHAMMAD
