The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has disclosed that Nigeria is yet to achieve its 70 per cent digital literacy target, despite steady improvements in broadband penetration and internet access. The agency says millions of Nigerians still need practical digital skills to participate effectively in the country’s expanding digital economy.
The disclosure highlights an important gap in Nigeria’s digital transformation: while more people can access the internet and digital services, access alone does not guarantee the ability to use technology confidently, safely and productively.
Nigeria aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and increase the figure to 95 per cent by 2030. However, progress recorded on the National Digital Literacy Dashboard shows that the country still has considerable work to do to meet these ambitions.
At the October 2026 National Digital Literacy Workshop in Abuja, NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, explained that the agency had recorded approximately 2.77 million digital literacy training achievements since January 2022. The records represented only a small proportion of the 50 million Nigerians the national programme aims to reach.
Digital Literacy Progress Remains Below National Target
According to NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Dashboard, approximately 2.78 million verified training achievements had been recorded by October 24, 2026. This represented about 5.57 per cent of the programme’s 50 million target population, leaving more than 47 million additional people to reach.
The dashboard also showed that 248 organisations had reported their digital literacy interventions, with activities covering all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, including the country’s 774 local government areas.
Although these figures demonstrate the growing involvement of government institutions, technology companies, educational organisations and development partners, they also expose the scale of the remaining challenge.
Importantly, the 2.78 million figure represents verified training achievements recorded through the dashboard, not a comprehensive measurement of every digitally literate Nigerian. Some citizens already possess digital skills without participating in the programmes captured by the platform.
Nevertheless, the figures provide an important indication of the reach of organised digital literacy interventions and the need to expand them.
Broadband Expansion Does Not Automatically Mean Digital Literacy
Nigeria’s increasing internet access has created opportunities for businesses, students, workers and households to participate in digital activities. More Nigerians now use mobile internet for banking, communication, education, shopping and access to public services.
However, NITDA’s concerns highlight the difference between connecting people to the internet and equipping them with the skills to use it effectively.
For example, having a smartphone and an active data subscription does not necessarily mean that a user can identify online fraud, protect personal information, evaluate digital information, create content or use productivity software.
Similarly, businesses may have internet access without possessing the technical knowledge required to automate operations, manage digital records or adopt emerging technologies.
This distinction matters because Nigeria’s digital economy needs more than network coverage. It also needs citizens who can use technology to improve their productivity, develop businesses, access opportunities and solve everyday problems.
Broadband expansion must therefore go hand in hand with practical digital education, affordable devices, reliable electricity and accessible training programmes.
NITDA Uses National Dashboard to Track Digital Skills Development
To improve coordination and accountability, NITDA introduced the National Digital Literacy Dashboard as a central platform for monitoring training programmes across the country.
The platform brings together information from government agencies, private companies, educational institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.
According to Abdullahi, the dashboard will help stakeholders identify communities that receive little digital skills support, reduce duplication of training activities and direct resources towards underserved populations.
For instance, when two organisations conduct similar training in the same community while another area receives no intervention, the dashboard can help expose the imbalance and encourage better coordination.
Furthermore, the platform allows participating organisations to report their activities and update their records, giving policymakers a clearer picture of national progress.
However, the NITDA chief cautioned that the number of people trained should not serve as the only measure of success. Instead, the agency wants to establish whether participants have acquired practical competencies and can apply them in their workplaces, businesses and daily activities.
This approach shifts attention from attendance figures to measurable improvements in digital capabilities.
Women and Underserved Communities Need Greater Inclusion
Another concern emerging from the dashboard is the level of female participation in recorded digital literacy programmes.
Women accounted for approximately 32.9 per cent of recorded participation, highlighting the need for more inclusive interventions.
This gap matters because digital skills can improve women’s access to employment, entrepreneurship, education, financial services and business opportunities.
However, financial constraints, limited access to devices, connectivity challenges and social barriers can prevent some women from participating fully in digital training.
NITDA and its partners therefore need to expand programmes that reach women, rural communities, persons with disabilities and other groups that face barriers to technology access.
In addition, training providers should consider the different needs of participants rather than rely on a single approach for every community.
For rural entrepreneurs, for example, digital training could focus on online marketing, mobile payments and agricultural information services. Meanwhile, students may benefit more from digital research, content creation, coding and online safety.
Digital Literacy for All Programme Drives National Training
NITDA continues to pursue its national target through the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, which the agency launched in 2024.
The programme focuses on three broad areas: formal education, workforce development and the informal sector.
Through these areas, the agency seeks to equip students, workers, entrepreneurs and other Nigerians with the competencies required to participate in the digital economy.
The initiative also involves collaboration with educational institutions, government agencies and private-sector organisations.
For example, partnerships with the National Youth Service Corps help mobilise corps members as digital literacy trainers who can take practical skills into communities.
The national framework covers six core competency areas: device and software operations, information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, digital safety and problem-solving.
Together, these skills provide a foundation for using technology responsibly and productively.
Furthermore, NITDA is working with relevant education stakeholders to strengthen digital skills development within the formal education system, including schools and universities.
Digital Skills Are Essential for Nigeria’s Economic Growth
Nigeria’s ambition to build a larger and more productive digital economy depends partly on the ability of its citizens to use technology effectively.
For small businesses, digital literacy can improve record-keeping, customer engagement, online sales and financial management. For workers, it can increase productivity and create opportunities in technology-driven industries.
Similarly, students with practical digital skills can access online learning resources, develop technical competencies and prepare for changing employment demands.
As artificial intelligence, automation and digital platforms reshape different sectors, the need for these competencies will become even more important.
However, Nigeria must ensure that digital training remains relevant to changing industry requirements. Programmes should therefore introduce learners to emerging technologies while maintaining a strong foundation in basic digital skills, cybersecurity and responsible internet use.
Stronger Partnerships Needed to Meet the 2027 Target
Achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 will require more than the efforts of NITDA alone. Federal and state governments, technology companies, universities, schools, civil society organisations and development partners must expand their contributions.
Stakeholders also need to improve the quality of training, ensure credible reporting and assess whether participants can demonstrate the skills they acquire.
The Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Adetunji Adeyemo, has similarly emphasised the importance of collaboration and measurable outcomes.
He argued that the success of digital literacy programmes should reflect how effectively Nigerians apply their skills to improve their lives, work and businesses, rather than simply how many people attend training sessions.
Consequently, stronger monitoring and evaluation will help the government identify successful interventions and improve programmes that produce limited results.
Conclusion
NITDA’s disclosure that Nigeria is yet to achieve its 70 per cent digital literacy target highlights the difference between expanding internet access and building a digitally capable population.
Although broadband growth and wider connectivity have created new opportunities, millions of Nigerians still need the practical skills required to use technology safely and productively.
The National Digital Literacy Dashboard and the Digital Literacy for All initiative provide important tools for coordinating training and monitoring progress. Nevertheless, their success will depend on broader participation, inclusive programmes and measurable improvements in digital competence.
As Nigeria works towards its 2027 and 2030 targets, the priority must be to ensure that more citizens can do more than connect to the internet. They must also have the confidence and ability to use digital technology to learn, work, innovate, run businesses and participate meaningfully in the country’s economic development.
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