As Nigeria battles a growing wave of brain drain in its public sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has introduced a Digital Competence Framework and Career Progression Model aimed at retaining skilled ICT professionals and strengthening digital capacity across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
By Chimezie Godfrey
As Nigeria battles a growing wave of brain drain in its public sector, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has introduced a Digital Competence Framework and Career Progression Model aimed at retaining skilled ICT professionals and strengthening digital capacity across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
The landmark initiative was announced by NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, during a session at the International Civil Service Conference in Abuja, themed “Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!” The session, titled “Digital Transformation: Digital Skills for Civil Servants – Capacity Gaps and Future Readiness,” brought together key stakeholders in public sector innovation.
Speaking through his representative, Dr. Ahmed Tambawal, Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department at NITDA, Inuwa said the new framework seeks to address stagnation and underutilisation of digital talent in the civil service.
“Highly skilled professionals are often stuck in roles that don’t reflect their expertise, while their counterparts in the private sector benefit from clear advancement paths and continuous training,” Inuwa noted.
He explained that the framework—developed in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation—provides structured career pathways and globally recognised certifications for civil servants.
“We want to make public service roles more professionally rewarding and ensure our best minds are not lost to the private sector or foreign opportunities,” he said.
Already operational within NITDA, the model will be extended to other MDAs to help build a digitally competent and future-ready civil service.
Inuwa also announced the launch of a Digital Champions Programme, another collaboration with the Head of Service. The programme identifies top digital talents across MDAs and provides them with specialised training to lead internal innovation efforts.
“These champions will drive digital change from within, promoting efficiency and fostering a culture of innovation across government,” he said.
The initiative comes as the country continues to lose top professionals to the private sector and overseas job markets—widely referred to as the “Japa” phenomenon. According to Inuwa, reversing this trend requires making civil service careers more dynamic, rewarding, and digitally aligned.
“We are committed to developing a digital civil service that retains talent, encourages growth, and drives national development,” he stated.
Other notable contributors to the session included Permanent Secretary Faruk Yabo Yusuf (lead speaker), Kevin Cunnington, and Wumi Oghoetuoma-Jolomi, who all emphasised the urgent need for government transformation driven by skilled digital professionals.
They stressed that true digital transformation goes beyond adopting new technologies—it requires a complete reimagining of how government institutions function, interact with citizens, and deliver services. This includes upskilling civil servants, assessing institutional capabilities, and leveraging public data for more responsive governance.
The conference marks a significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to modernize its public sector and make it more attractive to top talent in the digital economy.