To rapidly accelerate digital inclusion and modernise Nigeria’s education sector, NITDA has completed phase one of its national training initiative, certifying 3,600 teachers from all 36 states and the FCT as Digital Literacy Master Trainers.
The intensive programme, executed under NITDA’s flagship ‘Digital Literacy for All’ (DL4ALL) initiative, marks a critical escalation in the government’s efforts to achieve 70 percent digital literacy nationwide by 2027. The newly equipped educators are now tasked with cascading their acquired skills to thousands of colleagues and millions of students in their respective communities, setting the stage for a systemic overhaul of teaching and learning methods across the country.
The ‘Train-the-Trainer’ Multiplier Effect
The DL4ALL initiative employed a robust blended learning model, combining several weeks of intensive virtual sessions with a highly practical, two-day physical workshop recently concluded in Abuja. This approach was specifically engineered for scale and sustainability. The 3,600 participants drawn from both basic and secondary education levels did not merely receive training; they were inducted as Master Trainers, forming the vanguard of Nigeria’s educational transformation army.
According to NITDA, this “train-the-trainer” framework is essential for maximizing impact across Nigeria’s vast and geographically diverse landscape. Each Master Trainer is expected to return to their state and train hundreds of other teachers, ensuring the foundational digital skills reach every classroom, from metropolitan centres to rural areas. This cascading model is designed to create a sustainable cycle of capacity building, dramatically accelerating the adoption of 21st-century teaching methodologies.
The training curriculum was built around the core competencies defined by the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), ensuring a holistic understanding of digital citizenship. Key areas covered included: Information and Data Literacy, essential Problem-Solving using digital tools, responsible Digital Content Creation, effective Communication and Collaboration, Devices and Software Operation, and critically, online Safety and ethical digital practices.
Aligning Education with National Digital Goals
This large-scale intervention is not an isolated project but a cornerstone of Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda, a mandate reiterated under the Renewed Hope Agenda. NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, has consistently emphasised that the goal of reaching 70% digital literacy by 2027 is directly tied to national economic diversification and the ambition to build a robust technical workforce.
The teachers’ training serves as the essential foundational layer for the Federal Government’s more ambitious plans, including the ongoing “3 Million Technical Talent Programme (3MTT).” By ensuring that educators are digitally proficient, NITDA is effectively preparing students with the prerequisite digital fluency required to enter the technical talent pipeline. This alignment ensures that future graduates are not just job seekers, but creators, innovators, and contributors to the global knowledge economy.
Furthermore, the DL4ALL programme underscores the successful synergy between critical government stakeholders. NITDA is implementing this initiative in deep collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC). This partnership confirms a unified commitment from policymakers to integrate digital literacy into the formal education curriculum across all tiers of schooling, from kindergarten to tertiary institutions, ensuring a future-ready education system.
Teacher Testimonials: Bridging the Digital Divide
The enthusiasm and appreciation from the participating teachers highlighted the immediate and profound necessity of the programme. Speaking to reporters at the Abuja physical session, beneficiaries described the experience as a game-changer for their professional practice.
Mr. Tanko Abdulkareem, a teacher from Kuje Area Council, described the programme as a “transformative experience that broadened my understanding of digital applications in the classroom.” He expressed confidence that the skills would not only enhance his teaching but also his ability to support his colleagues.
Similarly, Muhammad Ademu from the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) hailed the initiative as a “timely and life-changing intervention,” predicting its significant contribution to repositioning Nigeria’s education sector for the realities of the 21st-century economy.
Perhaps most critically, Bamidele Gbenga Samuel, a teacher from Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada, stressed the programme’s role in tackling inequality. He emphasised that the training is directly equipping teachers with the necessary tools to “bridge the digital divide that has long limited effective classroom teaching.”
“Teachers are the bedrock of learning,” stated Miss Veronica Miapie of the FCT Secondary Education Board. “For us to properly prepare students for future opportunities, we must first be digitally literate. Digital literacy is no longer optional, but a necessity for both teachers and students.” The successful training of these 3,600 Master Trainers marks a definitive turning point in Nigeria’s digital journey. As these educators return to their posts, the true test of the initiative will lie in the effective cascading of knowledge and the eventual transformation of millions of Nigerian students into active, competent, and safe digital citizens, firmly positioning the country for leadership in Africa’s rapidly evolving digital space. The ripple effect of this intervention is anticipated to span generations, nurturing a knowledge-driven economy that thrives on innovation and technological prowess.
