The federal government stated on Thursday that it will begin fully implementing the newly launched curriculum on Information Technology and...
The federal government stated on Thursday that it will begin fully implementing the newly launched curriculum on Information Technology and the Digital Economy in January 2026.
The head of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, revealed this in Abuja, at the launch of a book titled: 'The power of a Teenager: 50 ways to inspire change', written by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in the House of Representatives and founder of the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV), Rep. Bamidele Salam.
Mr. Abdullahi, represented by NITDA Director Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, stated: “One of the tasks the President of the Federal Republic assigned to my agency is for us to find ways to significantly advance the development of information technology and the digital economy in the country.”
And all of this is aimed at promoting economic diversification. Given that IT is a vital economic sector, it is the industry that propels economies globally.
The President has provided us with a directive that by 2027, 70% of Nigerians should be digitally proficient. Therefore, in alignment with this goal, we have collaborated with the Ministry of Education to develop a new curriculum for the nation.
Currently, the new curriculum has received approval, and the President has given his endorsement for it to be implemented starting next January across all schools in the nation. Therefore, from kindergarten through to tertiary institutions, this updated curriculum will come into effect. This new curriculum incorporates digital literacy skills tailored for Nigerian youth.
And it's all focused on helping us reach 70% digital literacy across the country. We're also collaborating with others, and we have three main areas of focus. We're working with the entire workforce, making sure that all civil servants, both at the national and state levels, receive digital literacy training. We're accomplishing this through information technology and also with the commerce sector.
We are collaborating with the NYSC, and we have advocates throughout the Local Governments, providing training to market women, artisans, and all other individuals across the country. All these efforts are aimed at ensuring that by 2027, we achieve a 70% digital literacy rate in the nation.
He revealed that the Agency has started training teachers. This year, we have begun training teachers. And today, my DG was with the First Lady of the nation at the Villa, where a group of women from across the country were graduated after being equipped with digital literacy skills.
One of the points I brought up during that meeting was the fact that we are also collaborating with educators, making sure that teachers across the nation are being trained to adopt this new curriculum.
In his comments, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the National Assembly, House of Representatives Liaison, Dr. Ibrahim Olarenwaju, demonstrated dedication to the growth of children across the nation.
Praising Rep. Salam for his commitment to youth growth, he stated, "You might not yet fully grasp the effect of what you are currently receiving, but in the future, you will recognize what Hon. Bamidele Salam has accomplished in your lives."
As a result, he called on all the involved parties to take a personal pledge in influencing the thoughts of young Nigerians, emphasizing that although Salam provided the funding independently, the more significant responsibility is in mentoring and directing the country's youth.
Additionally, the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, referred to the launch as a clear indication of the capabilities of Nigerian children.
Handled by Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, who commended Salam for matching his efforts with the administration's goals for empowering young people, stated, "This project directly addresses the leaders of the future."
At the event, Rep. Bamidele Salam, who showed enthusiasm for the achievements made since the establishment of CALDEV in 2015, voiced worries about the gaps in the content of our education system.
Compared to some other developed nations, particularly the United States of America, as a member of Rotary International, I participated in training sessions in the United States and encountered a young individual, observing how they integrate leadership development into their educational programs.
We still face a significant gap, and I joined forces with a group of friends to address it. We decided to take action, and our solution was establishing this foundation, the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative. We believe that by raising children with strong values and leadership skills, they will grow up to become change-makers in society.
Similar to 2015, up until now, there have been several successes over others. The National Children Leadership Conference, as the main event of our program, started in 2021 and has continued to expand. We have observed the effects of earlier programs, as children who attend this conference are never the same again.
They go back to their communities to begin taking action. Individuals who previously lacked public speaking abilities started participating in public speaking. Many of them now host radio programs in their home states.
They have established non-governmental organizations focused on out-of-school children, campaigns against early marriage, addressing child labor, and numerous other concerns. Therefore, it serves as a training ground, a supportive environment, and, as I mentioned, it's expanding. We have approximately 400 children participating in this year's event, and it has been truly remarkable and extraordinary.
He also introduced plans to establish "intentional follow-up programs, not solely by our own NGOs, but also by State Governments. I would like to urge state governments to adopt this initiative at the state level, ensuring extensive leadership development opportunities for young adults."
"As I mentioned in this program, Borno State has the highest number of participants. And you are all aware of the challenges we face in that region. If we can take our children, educate them, and support their growth, they can become the essential change-makers we need. These individuals will be capable of promoting peace, peaceful living, tolerance, access to education, and all other virtues that contribute to the country's advancement," Rep. Salam stated.
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