Beyond Basic IT: NITDA’s DL4ALL Rewires Federal Civil Service for Digital Future

Beyond Basic IT: NITDA’s DL4ALL Rewires Federal Civil Service for Digital Future

By Gloria Sarauniya Usman

ABUJA, NIGERIA February, 2026 - The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has recorded a major breakthrough in the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda, with more than 10,000 civil servants successfully completing foundational digital literacy training under its Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Workforce Programme.

Implemented in partnership with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the initiative enrolled over 45,000 public servants per course across four core modules: Digital Awareness; Use of Computers and Mobile Devices; Digital Content Creation, Communication and Collaboration; and Digital Safety and Security. According to the 2025 DL4ALL Workforce Programme Final Report, enrolments ranged between 45,813 and 54,377 participants per module, covering an estimated 65 to 75 per cent of the Federal Civil Service workforce.

Completion rates stood between 38.1 and 44.6 per cent—consistent with global benchmarks for large-scale voluntary online learning programmes. Notably, higher completion rates were recorded in more advanced modules, signalling growing digital readiness and stronger learner commitment. The report also revealed that institutional leadership and effective coordination, rather than workforce size, played a decisive role in outcomes, with some smaller MDAs achieving completion rates above 70 per cent.

Speaking during a courtesy visit and award presentation at the OHCSF, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, highlighted the Agency’s collaboration with the Cisco Networking Academy, which provides civil servants with affordable access to globally recognised digital training. He noted that the programme establishes a pipeline for advanced skills development in areas such as cybersecurity, networking, data fundamentals and emerging technologies beginning in 2026.

With the foundational phase firmly established, NITDA said its next focus will include transitioning to role-based digital skills, institutionalising Digital Literacy Champions across MDAs, strengthening data-driven monitoring through a national dashboard, and preparing participants for certification-ready competencies. The initiative supports the Federal Government’s target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027, while positioning the public service as more agile, technology-driven and citizen-focused.