Nigeria aims to boost digital literacy to 70% by 2027, but the country faces serious challenges convincing nearly four in ten adults can’t read or write, according to government data.
The Director-General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, recently outlined the country’s push to upskill its population in digital skills. Nigeria’s adult literacy rate currently sits at about 63.1%, meaning nearly 37% of adults lack basic reading and writing skills, which makes achieving digital literacy ambitions tough. However, NITDA has trained more than 350,000 people through its 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and plans to introduce digital skills in schools and NYSC training to build a broad foundation from kindergarten to young adults.
The government is working on increasing broadband access by expanding fibre optic cables over 90,000 km and building digital centres in each state, aiming to connect underserved communities. These infrastructure efforts support Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy and upcoming global tech events like GITEX Nigeria and ICEGOV in 2025.
Still, data from the World Bank shows gaps remain: over half of Nigerians lack basic digital skills, with only 68% able to use smartphones at a basic level and just 39% able to operate laptops or tablets. Women and rural populations face even more hurdles, with lower awareness and access to mobile internet and ICT tools. Many public schools in rural areas lack computers and trained teachers for digital lessons, making it harder to integrate digital literacy into education.
NITDA’s plan expects training millions through the 3MTT programme, certifying corps members as digital ambassadors, and reforming education curriculums. But there are no formal nationwide standards or certification frameworks yet to measure progress reliably. Experts stress the need for tools to assess digital skills, like those used internationally in UNESCO or European frameworks, which Nigeria has yet to adopt.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria’s fintech sector is booming, with over 217 startups capturing 42% of African venture capital in fintech innovation. Digital skills have helped communities access mobile banking, agent banking, and digital payments, especially in rural areas.
In the north, over 350,000 trainees have enrolled in NITDA’s programmes since 2023, helping to close gender and regional digital divides. NGOs like Tech Herfrica also support rural women and girls with digital training where government rollout is slower.
However, broadband coverage still reaches less than half of Nigerians due to costs and regulatory hurdles. Also, data protection laws passed in 2023 aim to build trust, ensuring people feel safe using online platforms. Literacy itself remains a big barrier, many adults can’t read basic text, so expecting them to use online services without foundational skills is somewhat unrealistic.
To bridge this gap, experts recommend mixed approaches, combining online and offline training, subsidies for devices, teacher training, and collaboration between government and NGOs. Without these combined efforts, Nigeria risks leaving millions behind as its economy digitizes.
The 2027 target is ambitious but crucial. Success depends not just on infrastructure, but also on improving basic and digital literacy hand in hand.
This effort to rise from 63% literacy to 70% digital fluency is more than a statistic. It is a foundation for economic inclusion, jobs, and innovation for millions of Nigerians.
