Bauchi State Government, in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has launched the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework also known as the DL4ALL Bauchi Initiative to equip residents with 21st-century skills and position the state as a hub for digital innovation.
By Chimezie Godfrey
Bauchi State Government, in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has launched the Digital Literacy and Skills Framework also known as the DL4ALL Bauchi Initiative to equip residents with 21st-century skills and position the state as a hub for digital innovation.
Speaking at the launch in Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed described digital literacy as a “fundamental right” and part of his administration’s strategy to prepare youths and civil servants for the global economy.
“With the right skills, people can now create sustainable value from anywhere — even from their own homes,” he said. “We will empower our youth, strengthen institutions, and enable our entrepreneurs to succeed globally. Beyond literacy, we are committed to producing an army of experts in advanced digital skills to drive innovation and economic diversification.”
The governor noted that his government’s investments in infrastructure over the past six years aim to open up the economy and connect the state’s youth to global markets.
Representing NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the agency’s Director of the DG’s Office, Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, praised Bauchi for “taking a bold step towards ensuring the state is not left behind in the global digital revolution.”
The DL4ALL Bauchi Initiative aligns with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and the National Digital Literacy Framework, which focuses on six core competencies: device and software operation, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, safety, and problem-solving.
The programme will run across three strategic areas:
Informal sector: Training artisans, traders, and other workers, with 7,101 Digital Literacy Champions already reaching more than 267,000 Nigerians.
Workforce readiness: Equipping public servants, graduates, and job seekers with employability skills, with a target of five million workers trained nationwide.
Education sector: Integrating digital skills into schools, with a new Basic Education Digital Skills Curriculum set to roll out in September 2025 and 3,600 teachers to be trained.
Inuwa described Nigeria’s youthful population as its “greatest resource” and said Bauchi’s human capital and location give it “enormous potential to become a hub for digital innovation and economic transformation.”
The Director-General of Bauchi State’s Bureau for ICT and Digital Economy, Malam Hayatudeen Babamaji, said the launch marked “a bold agenda for the state’s digital future,” with plans to become a secure, inclusive, and competitive tech hub in Northern Nigeria.
The event drew senior officials, tech leaders, development partners, and lawmakers, signalling what organisers described as a major step in bridging Bauchi’s digital skills gap and boosting job creation.