News
How NITDA Revolutionized Digital Literacy in Nigeria in 2022

By Rukayya Sadauki.
It is a brand-new year, and 2022 was all but a memory and those whose lives were transformed and positively by the NITDA, the year will continue to be indelible for their lives.
Since he assumed office in 2019, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi set eyes on transforming the digital landscape of Nigeria to demonstrate that internet is not only a platform for social engagement and whatnot, but also massive job opportunities and skills for millions of Nigeria as the country increasingly becomes more integrated into the global economy and digital infrastructure.
As part of its effort to bolster digital literacy and skills among Nigerian youth, NITDA under Malam Kashifu was able to train 67 members of Youth and Environmental Development Association (YEDA) on digital marketing.
Journalists were not left behind as the agency managed to train over 100 journalists in 2022 on digital journalism as more and more Nigerians rely on internet for news update which means internet is here to stay in Nigeria.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullah was also instrumental in training over 300 women on digital skills in a bid to empower women to play active roles in digital content and job opportunities online which is in line with the policy priority of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy. This giant stride recorded by Kashifu Inuwa would go down in history as one of the most realistic legacies to empower women and help them be financial independent in the long run.
210 hub managers had been mentored in 2022 alone. 300 participants of MDAs were trained on digital skills in 2022. Over 1500 junior secondary school teachers were trained on digital skills such online schools, copy editing, online sales and other necessary skills that are vital to economic development.
Moreover, the NITDA under Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi liaised with Kano State Government to train 53 senior executives on e-government and how to cut down the cost of governance in the state.
With 573 civil servants trained on management leadership; 6644 youths were trained on Digital Skills transformation Programme across the country; and 1858 beneficiaries were in 2022 trained on phone repairs in Nigeria.
NITDA under Kashifu Inuwa did not stop here as the agency keeps trailblazing and preparing the country for digital transition. Scholarships were offered to 652 students: 42 PhD students and 610 MSCs students.
When it comes to empowerment, NITDA distributed 530 laptops and desktops to Nigerian students in 2022. 966 tools of different varieties were provided to trainees, and 485000 have been trained on NART to mention but a few.
As a result of compliance with National Data Protection Regulation, over 75 domain names had been registered in 2022. 5764 people were trained on NDPR. 985 audits were filled, and the market value of the NDPR soared for the first time ever to 1.2 billion naira.
While these achievements did not take into accounts several other projects the agency under Kashifu Inuwa embarked, Nigeria is well in a better position to become a hub of digital excellence over the next few years.
With a total population of over 200 million people, training Nigerians on proper utilization of digital content would present massive opportunities for Nigerian youths who are in a desperate search for jobs to keep their bodies and souls together.
As a result of the training, over 7500 jobs were created in 2022 with multiplier effects. Making a dent in unemployment rate using digital literacy and skills remains the top policy priority under Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi as he keeps exploring ways and opportunities for Nigerians.
As we enter 2023, our hope is NITDA would continue to demonstrate its willingness to accelerate our digital transition and pave the way for socioeconomic growth.
News
Tomato ‘Ebola’ May Disrupt Nigeria’s Agric Value Chain- Rewane

Bismarck Rewane, renowned economist and chief executive officer of the Financial Derivatives Company, has warned that the recent outbreak of the tomato leaf miner, commonly referred to as “Tomato Ebola,” is a disruption to Nigeria’s agriculture value chain.

Bismarck Rewane, CEO, Financial Derivatives Company
Speaking on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme on Thursday, Rewane emphasised that the impact of the outbreak extends far beyond tomatoes, triggering a cost ripple effect across the broader food basket.
“The effect of an increase in the price of tomatoes leads to cost elasticity which means that the price of other substitutes will begin to increase, including the price of carrots, the price of tomato paste, price of tomato puree and other things.
“One for the reddening, two for the effect and the thickening on the sauce you’re making.
“However, because tomato is a perishable commodity, it also means that if there is tomato ebola, then the price has increased, and also the supply has reduced, it has a knock-on effect on so many other things,” Rewane explained.
He added that Nigeria’s lack of food storage and preventive mechanisms has worsened the crisis, causing severe supply chain disruptions.
Rewane’s comments come amid a sharp increase in the price of tomatoes, with a 50-kilogramme basket of the commodity which used to sell for N5,000, now selling for N10,000 to N30,000, thereby compounding food inflation and straining household budget.
The Federal Government said Nigeria has so far lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of the invasive pest in key tomato-producing states like Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of Agriculture and Food Security, explained that the outbreak has significantly disrupted tomato supply chains, causing a surge in prices.
He noted that the outbreak of tomato Ebola highlights the fragile nature of Nigeria’s horticultural systems, and that the invasive pest can destroy tomato crops within 48 hours, resulting in catastrophic yield losses.
He added that this crisis highlights the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties, and enhanced support for farmers to safeguard the country’s food supply chains.
News
Loan Controversy: Court adjourns Otudeko, others’ case to June 11

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the N12.3 billion loan controversy case involving the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, and three others, to June 11, 2025.

Oba Otudeko,
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke postponed the case to allow time for either a peaceful settlement or the formal arraignment of the suspects.
The decision followed reports that negotiation are still ongoing between the parties involved for out-of-court settlement as advised by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who is trying to mediate.
During Thursday’s hearing, Otudeko’s lawyer, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), told the court that negotiations for an out-of-court resolution were still in progress.
Similarly, the lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Buhari, acknowledged the discussions but asked the court to set a new date for arraignment in case the negotiations fail.
It will be recalled that at the last sitting of the court on March 17, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had informed the judge that a meeting involving all counsel had been convened at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation.
He said that this was aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement of the case.
Olanipekun had also stated that substantial progress was made, and the AGF directed all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the resolution process, including filing further applications.
The court will reconvene on June 11 to hear the outcome of the settlement talks or proceed with the arraignment if no agreement is reached.
News
Zamfara, Oracle Partner to Drive Digital Skills Development

The Zamfara State government has signed an agreement with Oracle to invest in youth development, workforce capacity building and the digital economy under Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative (SDI).
The agreement was signed at Oracle’s Offices in London, United Kingdom, with Governor Dauda Lawal representing the Zamfara State government.
A statement on Wednesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained that the development will foster collaboration between the Zamfara Information and Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) and Oracle.
Secretary to the State Government, two Special Advisers and the Executive Secretary of ZITDA were also present at the event, along with Siobhan Wilson, Oracle UK Country Leader and Senior Vice President, EMEA.
The statement said, “Zamfara State government has signed a strategic agreement with Oracle to drive digital skills development across the state.
“Facilitated through the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, the collaboration will use the expertise and learning services of both Oracle Academy and Oracle University in their digital transformation efforts.
“The collaboration signifies a commitment to education and a strategic investment in the future of Zamfara’s youth, workforce and digital economy.
“Oracle Academy, Oracle’s global philanthropic educational programme offers a robust portfolio of technology education teaching and learning resources, including curriculum and software access, to educators and students worldwide.
“With the support of the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, these resources will be made available to validate higher education institutions across Zamfara.
“ZITDA will help lead efforts to integrate Oracle Academy offerings into Zamfara’s higher education curriculum, equipping educators with the tools and resources they need to guide students in learning hands-on tech skills and toward Oracle’s professional certifications and foster a new generation of tech-savvy leaders.
“In addition, Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, a global programme that provides access to world-class learning and certification programmes at no cost to eligible learners, will further expand opportunities for learners in Zamfara.
“Through a co-branded Learning Portal in collaboration with ZITDA, Oracle University plans to provide free access to digital learning paths and foundational certifications for eligible participants across Zamfara. This includes curated learning journeys offering over 200 hours of professional-level training in high-demand areas such as Cloud, AI, Data Science and APEX development.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, Governor Dauda Lawal restated that the collaboration with Oracle is part of his administration’s commitment to transforming Zamfara into a hub of innovation, education, and digital excellence.
He said, “on behalf of the government and the good people of Zamfara State, I extend my deepest appreciation to Oracle for believing in our vision and for partnering with us on this transformative journey.
“What we are doing today goes beyond technology, it is about giving hope, creating opportunities and unlocking the future. By investing in digital education and innovation, we are offering real alternatives to poverty, to joblessness and to despair. I sincerely thank Oracle for standing with us, believing in the power of partnership, purpose, and shared dreams.
“Today, we are not just signing a document, we are making a promise, promise that every child in Zamfara will have a fair chance to dream, to learn, and to succeed. A promise that technology will be our bridge to a stronger, more inclusive economy. And, a promise that Zamfara will not merely participate in the digital revolution, we will lead it.”
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