NSUK Pioneers Digital Literacy As NITDA Partners CISCO For Flags Off Ceremony.

In what can best be described as historic, the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, in collaboration with National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA and CISCO, officially launched its Digital Learning for NSUK (DL4NSUK) initiative.

The event which signposts NSUK as the first tertiary institution in Nigeria to benefit from the initiative was held on 7th November, 2024 took place at the SB Mohammed Auditorium of the School of Postgraduate Studies.

In his keynote address, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Honorable Samuel Kafu Emgba, lauded the management of NITDA and CISCO for choosing Nasarawa State University, Keffi, as the first tertiary institution in Nigeria for the launch of the Digital Literacy Program which he noted will equip and empower students of the University with the necessary skills they need to improve their lives after graduation from the University stressing that every one needs to get on board because the future is digitally inclined.

In his special address at the occassion, the Director-General of National Information Technology Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi CCIE while expressing the significance of the partnership with Nasarawa State University stated that it is in line with the National Digital Literacy Framework of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to achieve a 60% target for Digital Literacy for youths and adults in Nigeria by 2025 and a 95% target for Digital Literacy levels across states and local governments by 2030.

The NITDA Boss stressed that in the near future all manner of jobs will be automated, this he noted will result in massive job losses across the globe which will have a profound effect on the economy, he further stated that it is in the line of this thinking that NITDA and CISCO are partnering to enhance Digital Literacy in tertiary institutions to empower the graduates of the University to be Digitally savvy and globally competitive, this he said informed NITDA’s first tertiary-level collaboration with NSUK. He also emphasized the importance of Digital Literacy in Nigeria, describing it as a necessity rather than a lifestyle.

Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman FELLOW: UNESCO, ACLS, FIIFPN stated that through the initiative, they are not only empowering the students of the University but also positioning the University as a regional leader in the fields of Information and communication technology (ICT), Cyberspace, Artificial (AI), and Robotics. She further added that the strategic integration of cutting edge technologies into the academic offerings of the school will open up a world of opportunities for the students, allowing them to develop the critical thinking, problem solving, and innovative mindset required to navigate the rapidly evolving digital world.

Also speaking at the event the Corporate Manager of CISCO Mr. Akpan Imoh highlighted the company’s global impact, noting that they have successfully trained 24 million people through the CISCO Networking Academy.

The event featured a presentation of an overview of the DL4NSUK initiative, highlighting its key features, objectives, challenges, and implementation plan by the Deputy Director of Incubation and Innovation at the Entrepreneurship Development Centre Dr. Taibat Ibrahim where she emphasized the initiative’s goal of providing a comprehensive learning experience for students.

The highlight of the event was the symbolic unveiling of the DL4NSUK plaque by dignitaries