The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its ambitious goal to make Nigeria a digitally empowered nation, with a target of achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030. This commitment was reiterated at the grand finale of the “Digital for All Challenge 2.0”, held in Abuja on Thursday.
The programme—an initiative of Tech4Dev, funded by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme and implemented in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)—has become a key driver in Nigeria’s digital inclusion agenda.
Representing the Director-General of NITDA, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management, outlined the agency’s national digital strategy. He revealed that over 30 million Nigerians, particularly from underserved and rural communities, are being targeted for digital skills training through the deployment of digital champions nationwide.
“We are integrating digital literacy into the national school curriculum, from primary schools to universities. We are also partnering with the Head of Civil Service to make digital skills mandatory for career progression in the civil service,” Onumo said.
NITDA aims to reach 70% digital literacy by 2027, with the long-term goal of achieving 95% by 2030 as part of Nigeria’s Digital Economy Policy and Strategy.
In her welcome remarks, Oladiwura Oladepo, Co-Founder of Tech4Dev, emphasized that the Digital for All Challenge is more than just a competition—it’s a national movement designed to democratize digital knowledge and bridge the digital divide across all socio-economic classes.
“This initiative has impacted over one million Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones. It’s about unlocking opportunities for individuals, families, and the nation,” she said.
The competition categories included basic, intermediate, and advanced digital skills challenges, with top participants from every zone.
Winners Walk Away with Millions in Prizes
- First Prize: Miracle Michael – ₦15 million
- Second Prize: Chinedu Arisa – ₦12.5 million
- Third Prize: Ismail Adam – ₦10 million
- Fourth Prize: Uluchi Chibueze – ₦7.5 million
The awards were presented by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who praised the initiative for empowering Nigerian youth with future-ready skills.
“Digital literacy is critical not only for job creation but also for national development,” she said, urging more young people to get involved in such transformative programmes.
Representing the British High Commission, Mr. Idongesit Udo, Digital Access Programme Adviser, lauded the initiative for building globally competitive digital talent. He reaffirmed the UK Government’s continued partnership with Nigeria through Africa Cyber Programme (cybersecurity), British Standards Institute (standardization) and UK-Nigeria Tech Hub (entrepreneurship and innovation)
“This programme equips young Nigerians, civil servants, and even school children to thrive in a digital-first world,” Udo said.
