IYD 2024: Bridging the digital divide in Nigeria

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August 12 of every year is celebrated as the International Youth Day. The role of young people in driving a sustainable future for all is indeed emphatic.

This year’s theme is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”

Rightly, this year’s theme eminently recognises the contribution of digitisation to sustainable development. Digital skills are a must-have for any citizen of the world in order to properly navigate and blend into an increasingly computerised age.

With the largest population of youth in the world and a median age of 17, about 70% of Nigeria’s population is below age 30. The Development Report of the World Bank in 2022 revealed that over 50% of Nigeria’s population of more than 213 million people are digital illiterates. Similarly, in 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that only 7% of Nigerian youths possess ICT skills needed for living in a digital economy. It is impossible to envision a great future for Nigeria with a present population that is inept in digital skills. This skill gap, if not decisively tackled, will translate to the inability of youths to thrive in socio-economic and civic spaces because they require digital literacy for meaningful participation. Digital skills are major components of human capital formation and are necessary for sustainable development in Nigeria.

It is widely clear why the digital divide/inequity and digital illiteracy in Nigeria pose a threat to the nation’s sustainable development. Governments at all levels are also not forthcoming in comprehensively implementing existing digital literacy frameworks like the NITDA Act. Digital dividends provide access to information capable of liberating citizens. Actionable strategies to achieve nationwide digital literacy for youths in Nigeria are enunciated below.

First, the Federal Government of Nigeria and states need to commit fully to the implementation of robust digital literacy laws like the NITDA Act, for primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education, and in conformity with global standards. Digital skills – both basic and advanced, should be incorporated as a core course/subject through all levels of education. Consequently, students are afforded the opportunity to self-discover early and make informed decisions on the advanced competencies they wish to specialize in higher levels of learning. These policies should also include capacity building for ICT teachers. This approach, if properly implemented, guarantees the digital proficiency of all students graduating from all levels of education in Nigeria.

Second, the success of any effort to bridge the digital divide is contingent upon purposive investment in ICT infrastructures by the government. Strategic investment in ICT infrastructures grants all schools the basic minimum facilities and tools to implement digital literacy policies. Some of these infrastructures include ICT Centers in communities and schools; properly furnished with standard computers per capita, and good internet connections. China’s ICT revolution in the 1990s is an apposite example of successful investment in ICT infrastructure development. More than $32 billion was invested by China into ICT integration between the 1990s and 2010. Nigeria, having a lesser population than China, can implement the same with greater efficiency. It is instructive that the responsibility of investing in ICT infrastructures is not exclusive to the government; non-state actors and the private sector should be incentivized to actively participate. For instance, tax relief schemes for telecommunication providers can spur them to increase construction of cell towers and broadband infrastructure, thereby improving efficiency of internet services.

Finally, the problem of corruption in Nigeria makes it an extreme necessity for citizens to monitor government expenditures. Citizens, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Press should therefore raise local consciousness and educate people on tracking government expenditure earmarked for ICT infrastructures. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 already guarantees the right of citizens to request information from any public institution or official – including official secrets. This legislation can be optimized to watchdog the government.

In conclusion, any country’s capacity to initiate and sustain development in the modern epoch is largely dependent inter alia on the proficiency of its people in digital literacy. The proposed approaches in this article to achieve nationwide digital literacy in Nigeria for youths and citizens must be altogether complementary to attain the desired outcomes. The time for digital inclusion and equity in Nigeria is now!

Joshua B. Oyebode is a Graduate of Law of Obafemi Awolowo University. He Leads iCASE, a non-profit organisation that advocates for human rights and inclusive development in low-income communities. He can be reached on [email protected]

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