The Federal Government has launched a Digital Nigeria Portal and Mobile Application in furtherance of the Digital Nigeria Programme, which was kick-started by President Muhammadu Buhari, on March 19, 2020.
Dr Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy (FMCDE) performed the virtual launch of the mobile application on Monday in Abuja.
Pantami said it was part of the government’s key initiatives aimed at empowering innovators and entrepreneurs with the requisite skills to thrive in an emerging digital economy.
He explained that the Digital Nigeria programme was a key component of the Digital Literacy and Skills Pillar of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria which was being championed by himself.
Pantami said the ministry was partnering with global institutions including the African Development Bank (AFDB) and Microsoft to enable Nigerians to acquire cutting edge digital skills within the comfort of their homes.
The Minister, however, reiterated the government’s resolve to promote skills over paper qualifications.
“We are championing a paradigm shift that lays emphasis on skills, in preference to merely having degrees without skills.
“To this end, Nigerians are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by enrolling today at https://digitalnigeria.gov.ng; or https://academy.nitda.gov.ng/ accordingly.
“The portals will give details on how to register and how to download the relevant Mobile Apps.
“The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is committed to developing the capacity of Nigerians to use technology to solve problems.
“We will keep updating the course offerings to reflect global trends. The Digital Nigeria Programme will provide a platform to empower Nigerians to develop relevant skills and build innovative solutions to address challenges within,” Pantami said.
Some of those present at the launch included Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, Managing Director of the Galaxy Backbone (GBB).