Youth Ministry, UNESCO partner to train civil servants in digital skills

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development in collaboration with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has launched a transformative capacity-building programme to enhance skills in Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for both senior management and junior staff members of the Ministry.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth Development, Olubunmi Olusanya, speaking at the flag-off of the training programme on Monday in Abuja, said the workshop was a pivotal step in the collective efforts to equip civil servants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to navigate the digital age effectively.

He highlighted the power of technology that is rapidly reshaping industries, economies, and governance structures, digital transformation in the world today, hence the public sector, being at the heart of policy formulation and service delivery, must evolve to meet the ever-changing expectations of citizens.

“Governments around the world are increasingly leveraging Artificial Intelligence (Al), big data, and digital technologies to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accessibility of public services.

“As civil servants, we have the responsibility to embrace and drive this transformation to ensure that our policies and services remain relevant and impactful,” Olusanya said.

He explained that training was anchored on UNESCO’s Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Competency Framework for Civil Servants, which he noted is designed to provide the participants with a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of digital governance, Al ethics, cybersecurity, and data-driven decision-making.

“Over the next few days, we will engage in insightful discussions, hands-on exercises, and interactive sessions that will equip us with practical knowledge on how to harness digital tools for policy development, public service improvement, and organisational efficiency.”

He applauded UNESCO for their unwavering support and technical assistance in building the capacities of civil servants in Nigeria, adding that their expertise and commitment to advancing digital governance will greatly enrich the learning experience during the workshop.

Mr. Albert Mendi, Head of UNESCO Abuja Office who was represented by Joshi Manish, said for digital transformation to succeed, governments need to change the way they function and begin to take a whole-of-society, inclusive approach.

“This will require their governance models, structures to adapt to the new challenges and opportunities posed by the development and use of digital technologies. Admittedly, they face an uphill battle as new and complex challenges that are difficult to diagnose and predict, which puts additional pressure on the public sector,” he stated.

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