Digital Literacy: NITDA Introduces Employability Training For Digital Economy In NYSC Camps

To ensure digital literacy, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) have launched the Digital Economy Employability Programme (DEEP) across the nation.

At the program's introduction in the FCT NYSC orientation camp, Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, stated that the programme would concentrate on giving the youths modern and pertinent digital literacy and skills.

According to Inuwa, the initiative was a step in the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020–2030's 8th pillar.

Digital Literacy and Skills were the eighth pillar, and its goal was to make sure that every Nigerian had the necessary digital literacy and skills to prosper in the fourth industrial revolution.

Dr. Ayo Bakare, the deputy director of the department in charge of the digital economy, served as Inuwa's representative.

He said that the skills will expose, prepare for, and connect corps members to in-demand job prospects in the global digital economy.

“Additionally, this programme will help create the opportunity for Nigerians to also create job opportunities within the digital economy space.

“This will ultimately help increase the contribution of ICT to the country’s Gross Domestic Product currently at 18.44 per cent.

“The outcome of this programme will help the country improve on its efforts at moving the country from a resource-based economy to a digital and knowledge-based economy.

“This programme will particularly focus on trending digital technologies and digital business strategies that will help participants discover opportunities in the global digital economy,” he said.

A global tech business disclosed that 149 million new digital jobs will be accessible by 2025, Inuwa claimed.

According to the firm, 800 million people would need to acquire digital skills by 2030 in order to execute their non-digital occupations efficiently.

Inuwa said: "The implication of this projection is that many Nigerians, both in the IT and non-IT space must acquire digital literacy and skills in order to thrive in this current fourth industrial revolution.”

The D-G added that Nigeria, with a population of around 218 million people and a youth population of about 50%, had the sufficient human capital potential to power the data economy.

He said that organisation was responsible for setting up the programme in seven NYSC strategic camps.

“We believe that the NYSC camps hold the brightest and the most intelligent Nigerian youths.

“We believe that corps members will not only benefit from this programme but will also create a multiplier effect.

“This is by transferring the knowledge and skills acquired during the course of this programme to other Nigerians.

“This will help the country realise its target of 95 per cent digitally literate Nigerians by 2030.”

Inuwa emphasised the need for the nation to embrace digital transformation and added that the global economy was shifting from one based on natural resources to one that was digital and knowledge-based.

He urged the corps members to leverage the opportunity, saying, "because it could launch them on the path of being the next sensational icons in the global digital space.”

The camp members were exhorted to participate in the programme that would contribute to the national development of the FCT NYSC Coordinator, Suleman Abdul.

The NYSC, according to Tayo Olosunde, Executive Director of the MindTheGap Foundation, a DEEP implementing partner, is the most effective platform for changing the perception of job generation in the nation.

Olosunde said it was beyond spending one year in the fatherland, adding,” the NYSC programme is constant and the structure could help correct unemployment issues.

“The kind of partnership NITDA is bringing for this programme will provide the content and linkages.

“When these youths are empowered, they will go to their place of primary assignment with skills.

“An employer will be excited to receive a corps member because they know you have a strategy to move their business to the next level.”

Highlights of the event included Platoon presentations by corps members on “Digital Skills are Compulsory for Every Youth that Wants to get a Decent Job or Build a Successful Business.’’