The Federal Government has announced new measures to expand digital access and training for displaced Nigerians, as part of a national push to bridge the digital divide and accelerate inclusive development.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will supply ICT equipment and roll out customised digital literacy programmes across resettlement cities and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, the agency’s Director-General Kashifu Inuwa revealed over the weekend.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja, Inuwa said the initiative is aligned with the government’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027), which aims to achieve 70% digital literacy nationwide by 2027.
“This is not just about equipment,” Inuwa said. “It’s about creating sustainable access to digital tools that empower people and give them a fair shot at rebuilding their lives.”
New Tech Hubs, Community Learning Centres Coming
Among the planned interventions are:
- Community-based digital learning centres with shared access devices
- Deployment of trained NYSC members to deliver ICT training
- Provision of bespoke ICT infrastructure suited to each community
- Rollout of innovative tech hubs in IDP camps within the Federal Capital Territory, in partnership with international organisations
Inuwa stressed the need for a formalised collaboration framework between NITDA and NCFRMI, including joint needs assessments, the design of scalable interventions, and the development of a replicable model for national deployment.
Over 6 Million Nigerians Displaced
The Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Hon. Tijani Aliyu Ahmed, welcomed the renewed partnership, calling it a critical step in restoring dignity and economic opportunity to Nigeria’s over 6.1 million IDPs, most of whom were displaced by insurgency, banditry, and natural disasters.
“This partnership goes beyond digital literacy,” Ahmed said. “It is about restoring dignity and creating opportunities for displaced Nigerians.”
Ahmed noted that 125,000 Nigerians are currently refugees in neighbouring countries, underscoring the scale of displacement. He said the Commission is focused on holistic recovery efforts, including:
- Access to clean water
- Rehabilitated schools and healthcare centres
- Vocational training and agricultural support for self-reliance
Resettlement cities have already been launched in Borno, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, and Daura, with a new site in Keffi, Nasarawa State, now hosting more than 40 families. These hubs offer homes, clinics, markets, schools, and farmland to help families rebuild with dignity.
“Digital literacy is now a vital component of empowerment,” Ahmed added. “With initiatives like JAMB’s shift to computer-based testing, we must ensure displaced children and youth are not left behind.”
Both agencies reaffirmed their commitment to using technology as a tool for inclusion, with NITDA leading the charge on digital skilling and NCFRMI providing the social infrastructure for sustainable resettlement.
The initiative forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader digital economy vision, which seeks to use innovation and skills development as a catalyst for equitable growth across all demographics — including the most vulnerable.
