A digital skill competition called #DigitalforAllChallenge 2.0 (DFA 2.0) sponsored by the federal government in collaboration with Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) seeks to empower one million Nigerians and winners of the competition would receive cash prizes and scholarships totaling N150 million.
At a launch in Abuja, Kashifu Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said the tournament targets a variety of populations, including young learners (ages 8-15), youth (ages 18-45), and civil servants.
He said each category is designed to inspire creativity, hone digital skills, and boost productivity, and the challenge was funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office would help bridge the digital skills gap in the country.
Abdullahi said the government was working on positioning the country as a talent net exporter, noting that there was a talent deficit globally which could reach 85 million by 2030, and could result in $8.5 trillion unrealized annual value if left unaddressed.
“We believe that Nigeria can bridge that gap if we position ourselves that is why we have so many initiatives around talent building.
“Government wants to train 3 million Tech talents with 1.5 million serving the local market, and 1.5 million placed on the global value chain,” he said.
The Director General maintained that there was a plan to build innovation hubs in all 36 states and FCT, and set up learning centers to further bridge the gap.
Joel Ogunsola, Founder of TechDev, explained that the Digital For All Challenge was an inclusive strategy that ensures everyone understands the role of technology in building a strong digital economy.
“If we want to become a digital economy, we need to make investments in areas that are knowledge-driven sectors. Essentially, we are giving out N150 million in cash prizes to winners”, he said.
