The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has recognised outstanding corps members serving as Digital Literacy Champions with cash prizes totalling ₦3.5 million and eight laptops.
The awards were presented by the NITDA Director-General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the NYSC Headquarters in Abuja, where he was received by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, alongside members of the management team and corps members.
The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration between NITDA and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in implementing Nigeria’s Digital Literacy Framework and advancing the Federal Government’s target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2025.
Speaking at the event, Inuwa described digital literacy as critical to national development, innovation and economic growth, noting that the framework equips citizens with foundational skills in information and data literacy, as well as digital content creation.
He explained that under the “Digital Literacy for All” initiative, corps members are trained and deployed as champions to deliver digital literacy sessions in communities nationwide, including markets, motor parks, religious centres and other public spaces. NITDA plans to recruit 80 corps members per state, including the FCT, for the programme.
Inuwa added that the initiative promotes digital inclusion while enhancing corps members’ employability and entrepreneurial potential, with participants also gaining access to NITDA’s online learning platforms to deepen their skills.
Beyond the corps members, additional awards and laptops were presented to the Mind the Gap Foundation, Dr Stephen Ambore of Tripod Professional Services Limited, and Mrs Ajayi Funmilayo of the Community Development Service and Special Projects Unit for their contributions to the initiative.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Nafiu commended NITDA’s commitment to youth empowerment and digital skills development, noting that with over 650,000 graduates participating in the NYSC annually, the partnership provides a strategic platform for producing digitally skilled, employable and self-reliant young Nigerians.
