By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has challenged Nigerian educators to move beyond examination-focused teaching and equip young people with practical digital skills that can translate into jobs, innovation and economic growth in an increasingly artificial intelligence-driven world.

Inuwa made the call at the English West and Central Africa Instructor Safari Conference 2026 in Abuja, where he stressed that continuous learning, critical thinking and adaptability would increasingly determine success in the future workplace.

Drawing from his personal experience as an alumnus of Cisco Networking Academy, the NITDA chief explained that digital skills training helped shape his professional journey, opening opportunities that enabled him to transition from website development to network engineering.

According to the account of his address, Inuwa urged instructors to prioritise practical competencies over an education system focused mainly on examinations.

“Technology education should go beyond theoretical knowledge and examinations to develop competencies that learners can apply in real-life situations,” he said, emphasising the importance of hands-on training, critical thinking, root-cause analysis, systems thinking and leadership.

Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, Inuwa 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 preparing Nigerians for changing employment demands through lifelong learning and continuous upskilling.

“The figures highlight the urgent need for Nigerians to embrace lifelong learning, continuous upskilling and the effective use of emerging technologies to remain relevant in an increasingly digital economy,” Inuwa said, according to the supplied account of his remarks.

The NITDA director-general also described digital literacy as fundamental to national development, economic competitiveness and inclusive growth, noting that digital competence had become as essential as reading, writing and numeracy.

He linked investment in digital skills and human capital to President Bola Tinubu’s ambition of growing Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion by 2030, arguing that a technology-ready workforce would be crucial to achieving the target.

As part of efforts to expand digital literacy in education, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA had collaborated with Nasarawa State University to pilot digital literacy as a General Studies course. The initiative is intended to expose students to technology beyond specialised computing disciplines.

FG expands digital education initiatives

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 critical to preparing Nigerian youths for the future of work.

Alausa said the 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.

He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, Cisco, educational institutions and development partners to expand access to digital learning and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital.

“The Federal Government has updated the national curriculum to introduce digital technology at the primary school level, with NITDA and UBEC supporting teacher training and the deployment of digital learning resources,” Alausa said, according to the supplied conference account.

The minister also urged Cisco Networking Academy to strengthen practical training and expand its partnerships with colleges of education, federal technical colleges and state technical colleges to improve graduates’ employability.

He stressed that closer cooperation between training institutions and employers would help bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplace expectations.

Alausa identified practical projects, mentorship, internships and recognised certifications as essential components of digital skills programmes. He also expressed confidence in Nigerian technology entrepreneurs and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to adopting homegrown software solutions.

Addressing digital inclusion, the minister 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, helping to reduce the cost barriers that prevent some learners from accessing digital resources.

Alausa urged young participants to embrace continuous learning, practise consistently and apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems.

Cisco reports 1.4 million Nigerian learners reached

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

Globally, the initiative had reached about 30 million students across 105 countries, with approximately 6.5 million active students in fiscal year 2026, according to figures presented at the conference.

In Nigeria, the programme reported approximately 338,000 active students, 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 succeed in the modern workforce.

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

The programme has also highlighted efforts to increase women's participation in technology and improve employment opportunities for graduates.

The conference reinforced calls for stronger practical training, closer collaboration between educators and employers, and broader access to digital learning as Nigeria prepares its workforce for an AI-driven economy.

•PHOTO: 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.