The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has identified teachers as the primary catalysts for Nigeria’s digital transformation, asserting that the nation's technology-driven future will be anchored in its classrooms, reports ITREALMS.
Represented by the Agency’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the NITDA boss explained that while digital technologies offer unprecedented access to information, they also necessitate expert guidance to ensure responsible use among students.
The theme of the forum, “Nigeria’s Current Digital Landscape: Our Reality and Its Practical Connection to Education,” provided a backdrop for Inuwa to argue that teachers must evolve beyond traditional instruction to become mentors in the digital realm.
He noted that educators are now essential guides who help students distinguish credible information from harmful content while fostering responsible online behavior.
By cultivating critical thinking and technical proficiency, teachers are preparing the next generation to thrive in a society increasingly dominated by automation and innovation.
This empowerment is viewed as a vital step in ensuring Nigeria remains competitive within the global digital economy.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to this mission through the "Digital Literacy for All" program and various partnerships aimed at strengthening the digital capacity of educational institutions.
These initiatives support Nigeria’s ambitious goal of achieving 70 percent digital literacy by 2027, a key pillar of the broader strategy to build a knowledge-driven economy. The DG stressed that equipping teachers with modern tools is not just an educational requirement but a strategic investment in the future workforce.
The Executive Director of the DEAN Initiative, Semiye Michael, added that the workshop was specifically designed to re-engineer teacher capacity to match the realities of the modern economy.
He called for increased access to digital infrastructure and a strengthening of teacher competence to support technology-driven learning across Nigerian schools. Michael described the engagement as a critical step toward consolidating ideas into a formal policy guide for the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies.
The event, which Michael characterized as a transformative experience, drew a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), and various private sector experts.
The consensus among participants was that strengthening the digital skills of educators is the most effective way to enhance Nigeria’s standing in the global knowledge economy and ensure that no student is left behind in the digital age.
Uj. N. Dominic/Editor
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