AI Revolution: NITDA DG Tasks Educators on Digital Skills, Job Creation ..... Inuwa says practical learning, continuous upskilling critical to $1trn economy target

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, delivering his remarks at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026.

.... As DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi urges Nigerian educators to shift from examination-driven teaching to practical digital skills training, warning that the country’s ability to compete in an artificial intelligence-driven economy will depend largely on the quality of its human capital.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has urged Nigerian educators to shift from examination-driven teaching to practical digital skills training, warning that the country’s ability to compete in an artificial intelligence-driven economy will depend largely on the quality of its human capital.

Inuwa said digital literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving had become essential competencies for young Nigerians as technological advancement continues to reshape industries, redefine jobs and create new economic opportunities.

He made the call at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja, where he challenged instructors to equip students with practical knowledge and transferable skills that would prepare them for the evolving demands of the workplace.

Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, the NITDA chief executive said technological advancement was projected to create 170 million jobs globally by 2030 while displacing approximately 92 million existing roles.

He said the projections underscored the urgency of continuous learning, reskilling and upskilling, stressing that Nigerians must develop the capacity to adapt to emerging technologies to remain relevant in the labour market.

According to him, digital education must transcend theoretical knowledge and examinations to focus on competencies that learners can apply to real-world challenges.

Drawing from his personal experience as an alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, Inuwa explained how digital skills training helped shape his career, creating opportunities for him to transition from website development to network engineering.

He said his experience demonstrated the transformative power of practical technology education and the importance of providing young people with opportunities to acquire industry-relevant skills.

The NITDA boss urged instructors to prioritise hands-on training, critical thinking, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership, describing them as transferable competencies that would help young Nigerians navigate an increasingly technology-driven economy.

He further stressed that digital literacy had become as fundamental as reading, writing and numeracy, noting that Nigeria's capacity to innovate, improve productivity and compete globally would depend on the availability of a digitally skilled workforce.

Inuwa linked investment in digital skills and human capital development to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's ambition of growing Nigeria's economy to $1 trillion by 2030.

He maintained that building a technology-ready workforce was critical to achieving the target, adding that the Federal Government was working to integrate digital literacy into formal education through curriculum reforms, teacher training and partnerships with relevant stakeholders.

As part of the initiative, he disclosed that NITDA had collaborated with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course, providing students with opportunities to acquire technology skills irrespective of their primary fields of study.

He commended Tinubu for prioritising human capital development and praised the Minister of Education for supporting programmes aimed at equipping Nigerians with relevant digital competencies.

Inuwa also acknowledged Cisco Networking Academy's contribution to digital skills development in Nigeria through its partnerships with federal universities and other academic institutions.

He urged instructors to ensure that graduates possessed the practical knowledge and problem-solving abilities required by employers, entrepreneurs and the wider economy.

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, in a group photograph alongside the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed; and other dignitaries at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to digital literacy and technology-driven education, describing digital skills development as indispensable to preparing Nigerian youths for the future of work.

Alausa called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, Cisco, educational institutions and development partners to expand access to digital learning and strengthen the country's human capital.

He disclosed that the Federal Government had updated the national curriculum to introduce digital technology at the primary school level, with NITDA and the Universal Basic Education Commission supporting teacher training and the deployment of digital learning resources.

The minister commended Inuwa for his contributions to Nigeria's digital transformation agenda, noting that technology was rapidly reshaping education and virtually every sector of the economy.

He urged Cisco Networking Academy to deepen practical training and expand its partnerships with colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates' employability.

According to him, stronger partnerships between training institutions and employers would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations.

Alausa identified practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised professional certifications as essential components of effective digital skills programmes.

He also expressed confidence in Nigerian technology entrepreneurs and reiterated the ministry's commitment to adopting homegrown software solutions.

The minister welcomed proposals to integrate digital literacy into General Studies courses in tertiary institutions, saying the initiative would broaden students' exposure to essential technology skills beyond specialised computing disciplines.

On digital inclusion, Alausa called for deliberate efforts to extend learning opportunities to girls, persons with disabilities, rural communities and financially disadvantaged learners.

He further disclosed that the ministry had collaborated with the Nigerian Communications Commission to provide zero-rated data access to educational content, a measure intended to reduce the cost barriers preventing many learners from accessing digital resources.

Alausa said education, innovation and youth empowerment remained central to Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, urging young Nigerians to embrace continuous learning, practise consistently and apply their knowledge to solving practical problems.

Meanwhile, Cisco West Africa General Manager, Abdulaziz Saeed, disclosed that Cisco Networking Academy had reached approximately 1.4 million Nigerian students since the programme began in 1997.

Globally, he said the programme had reached approximately 30 million students across 105 countries, with about 6.5 million active students in fiscal year 2026.

Figures presented at the conference showed that the programme had approximately 338,000 active students in Nigeria, supported by 696 instructors and partnerships with 369 academic institutions.

Saeed identified cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and software programming as essential areas of competence for young people seeking to thrive in the modern workforce.

He also highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure, accessible education and industry-relevant training, emphasising that collaboration among government, educational institutions, international organisations and the private sector was critical to bridging the digital divide.

The programme has also highlighted initiatives to increase women's participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates, reinforcing the importance of inclusive digital education in Nigeria's development drive.