AI Reforms Need Digitally Skilled Workforce, Says NITDA

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said the success of government reforms and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) rested on the digital capacity of civil servants.

The Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said this at a Digital Skills Masterclass on Thursday.

The masterclass was organised by the agency in collaboration with Meta for selected officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja.

Inuwa was represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, NITDA, Mr Olawumi Dejo.

He said Nigeria’s aspiration to build a thriving digital economy required a public service equipped with the knowledge and competencies to embrace emerging technologies and modern governance practices.

He said that the agency developed the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) to provide a standardised roadmap for digital skills development across the country.

The director-general said that the framework, which aligned with international best practices and addressed local needs, was around six core competences.

“These include device and software operations, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, digital safety, and problem-solving.

“The framework will enhance the ability of public servants to effectively utilise digital technologies, safeguard government information, strengthen collaboration across MDAs and improve the delivery of public services.

“Technology alone cannot transform institutions. Real transformation happens when people acquire the right digital skills to rethink processes, improve productivity and deliver better outcomes,” he said.

Inuwa described continuous learning as indispensable in an era of evolving and advancing technology, particularly with the growing adoption of AI.

He urged civil servants to continuously upskill and reskill to remain effective.

He also encouraged participants to serve as change agents by transferring the knowledge gained during the masterclass to colleagues through a train-the-trainer approach.

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, had trained more than 53,000 civil servants in digital skills.

He described the initiative as a major step toward building an AI-ready and digitally competent public service.

Also, Ms Victoria Oloni, Meta’s Public Policy Lead for Anglophone West Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through its partnership with NITDA.

Oloni said the increasing adoption of digital tools in government, showed that the public service was steadily transitioning from analogue to digital operations.

She, however, noted that the next phase should focus on institution-wide digital transformation, rather than isolated adoption of technology by individuals.

“Digital transformation is a continuous journey that requires sustained learning, collaboration and openness to innovation,” she said.

Oloni urged participants to maximise the opportunity presented by the training, adding that a digitally empowered workforce remained essential to building a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centred public service.
NAN