The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening youth online safety and digital literacy through strategic collaboration with Meta, as part of broader efforts to build a digitally inclusive economy and enhance trust in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.

This commitment was reiterated by the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, during the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

The Summit convened stakeholders from government, industry, civil society organisations, and the education sector to advance collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring young Nigerians enjoy safe, age-appropriate, and positive online experiences.

A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, initiatives developed by Meta in partnership with NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

Represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, the NITDA DG noted that the Agency’s collaboration with Meta aligns strongly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the priority areas of Reforming the Economy for Sustained Inclusive Growth and Strengthening National Security through robust cybersecurity measures that enhance digital trust and confidence.

He explained that building a digitally skilled population capable of safely navigating the online environment is fundamental to unlocking innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic opportunities in the digital age.

Speaking on the significance of the Summit’s theme, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” Inuwa stressed that protecting young people online requires collective responsibility from all stakeholders.

“Today’s theme is both timely and compelling. It reminds us that while digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, and social connection, ensuring that young people can benefit from these opportunities safely is a shared responsibility,” he said.

The DG emphasised that digital literacy cannot be separated from online safety, noting that the ability to use digital tools must be accompanied by the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital space responsibly.

“At NITDA, we believe that digital literacy and online safety are inseparable. Equipping citizens with digital skills without teaching them how to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and ethically would leave our work incomplete,” he stated.

According to him, this philosophy is embedded in NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) and the Agency's’flagship Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, through which it aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.

He further disclosed that online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy have become core competencies within the framework.

“Within this framework, online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking and, increasingly, Artificial Intelligence literacy are treated not as optional topics, but as essential competencies for every Nigerian,” he noted.

The DG highlighted the growing partnership between NITDA and Meta, describing it as a model for effective public-private collaboration in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Over the past year, both organisations jointly implemented the Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign, which reached more than 94 million people and generated over 216 million impressions across Facebook and Instagram. The campaign provided millions of Nigerians with practical guidance on online safety, privacy protection, digital wellbeing, and responsible internet use.

The partnership also extended to activities marking Safer Internet Day, where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were engaged and empowered to become advocates of responsible digital behaviour within their communities. More recently, both organisations reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy through innovation and inclusion at the Nigeria Digital Economy Forum.

While expressing optimism about the launch of My Digital World 2.0 and describing it as a strategic platform, Inuwa said, “We believe MDW 2.0 presents an excellent opportunity to institutionalise online safety education within Nigeria’s broader digital literacy ecosystem.”

He revealed that NITDA intends to integrate the programme into its teacher capacity-building initiatives, strengthen the resources available to its nationwide network of Digital Literacy Champions, and expand awareness campaigns through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations, and community stakeholders.

According to him, ensuring children’s safety online requires more than secure platforms; it requires informed families, empowered educators, and digitally aware communities.

“Our shared ambition should be to ensure that every Nigerian child is supported not only by safer digital platforms, but also by informed parents, empowered teachers, and digitally confident communities,” he remarked.

Describing the launch as a significant step forward, Inuwa said the initiative marks the beginning of a deeper partnership between government and industry aimed at preparing a new generation of Nigerians for the digital future.

“Today’s launch is more than the unveiling of another programme. It is the beginning of a deeper strategic collaboration between government and industry to build a generation of Nigerians who are digitally skilled, digitally responsible, and digitally resilient,” he stated.

He reaffirmed NITDA's commitment to working with Meta and other stakeholders to build a secure and inclusive digital ecosystem where innovation thrives, opportunities are accessible to all, and every Nigerian can participate confidently in the digital economy.

Also present at the event were the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. Both ministers reaffirmed their ministries’ commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement policies that foster a safe, inclusive, and enabling digital environment, particularly for young Nigerians, to navigate the internet responsibly and securely.

•PHOTO: Group photo of Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande (left), Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa Connectivity and Innovation Policy Manager, Meta Africa, Mrs Sola Dada (middle) and DG NITDA’s rep, Ag. •PHOTO: Group photo of Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande (left), Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa

Connectivity and Innovation Policy Manager, Meta Africa, Mrs Sola Dada (middle) and DG NITDA’s rep, Ag. Director, DLCB department, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal at the event

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