UNESCO Institute for Statistics(2018), defines Digital Literacy as the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies for employment, decent job and entrepreneurship. It includes competence that are variously referred to as computer literacy, ICT literacy, and media literacy. In a fast changing world, where almost everything is going digital; the most populus black nation on earth can’t afford to be left behind. In order to foster digital literacy among Nigerians, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) are collaborating to include digital literacy programmes in Nigerian universities’ curricula.

In a meeting at the NUC headquarters in Abuja Tuesday evening; the management of NITDA and NUC mapped out strategies and modalities for the inclusion of digital literacy programmes in all 275 universities across the country. Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi the Director General of NITDA led the NITDA Management while the NUC Management was led by its Executive Secretary, Prof Chris Maiyaki.

Population To Universities Ratio; Nigeria and Other Countries Compared 

For the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof Chris Maiyaki the dynamics of the digital economy ecosystem and the advancement in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) necessitated the collaboration. The Professor argued that for Nigerian university systems and their products to remain relevant and competitive globally, the university curriculum has to be scaled up to meet international standards and best practices, noting that Nigeria’s 149 private universities, 63 Federal Universities, and 63 state-owned universities cannot be left behind.

According to him, 275 universities is not enough for a population of over 200 million people. In a stark constrast, he noted that United States of America has about 5000 universities, Brazil with over 1,000, and Indonesia with over 2,000.

Professor Maiyaki calls for urgent intervention to bridge the huge gap in the number of universities needed in Nigeria to accommodate over 1.2 million vibrant students who seek admission into universities every year. He emphasized that the gaps in the education sector in terms of infrastructures, human capital resources, and funding needed to be bridged for the country to take its rightful position globally. 

Crucial Steps Taken by Nigerian University Commission (NUC)

Maiyaki pointed out the unbundling of some courses such as Mass Communications, Computer Science, and Agriculture as some of the crucial steps taken by NUC to narrow the gap. He emphasized that this was necessary given the far-reaching latitudes/opportunities offered by the disciplines. 

He said “The NUC is the flagship regulatory body for Nigerian universities and we are determined to ensure strict compliance with the minimum standards for curriculum planning and development. Though 30 percent of the curriculum is developed by the Universities…but we all cannot work in isolation.

“Like Yale University, MIT, and others, Nigerian universities should be recognized as top-notch for cutting-edge technology, Innovations, and inventions especially in areas of cyber security, software engineering, soft skills, critical thinking, and entrepreneurship as soon as possible “

FG Policies, Strategies and Possible Impact of Digital Literacy

Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi the Director General of NITDA categorically stated that as at 2001 when NITDA was created, there were about 500,000 Nigerians who had access to computers, but today over 132 million Nigerians have access to computers, the Internet, and digital platforms to undertake their daily businesses. Mallam Abdullahi attributed the surge in usage of computers and digital platforms to the 2019 policy of the Federal Government. He stressed that digital economy and innovation has became integral parts of government policy, and that the nation’s policy thrust on the digital economy has been since been recalibrated.

“We are here to seek partnership and collaboration with the NUC to ensure that university curricula are recalibrated to include digital literacy, digital innovation, development of soft skills, and entrepreneurship amongst others.

“We have concluded arrangements for 15 million Nigerian pupils and students to be trained in digital literacy and skills in our primary and secondary schools. A pilot study has been carried out at Nasarawa State University on how this can be implemented and included in the University curriculum. The Programme was being implemented by CISCO in collaboration with NITDA.

“We believe that with your support, this can be replicated and embedded in the curriculum of our universities. This would promote digital inclusion, and financial inclusion and deepen economic inclusion for all Nigerians irrespective of their locations across Nigeria.

“The 8 Strategy pillars developed for Nigeria’s transformation in Digital Economy and Literacy would bring about job and wealth creation, reducing poverty and ensure that Nigeria benefits from the 85 million jobs that would be available in the digital skills sector all over the world,” Malam Abdullahi stated.