Zamfara becomes first state to launch digital literacy framework

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara has emerged as the first in Nigeria to adopt a Digital Literacy Framework (ZDLF) to equip his people with essential digital skills for inclusive economic growth, e-governance, and innovation.

The high-level Stakeholder Engagement on the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework was held on Wednesday at the Garba Nadama Hall, JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, noted that the stakeholder engagement brought together key federal institutions, development partners, lawmakers, academia, and private sector actors to review and enrich the draft framework.

In his keynote address, Governor Lawal described the framework as a bold roadmap to a digitally inclusive future and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to seeing its full implementation.

He said, “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective journey to redefine the developmental pathway of Zamfara State through digital empowerment, innovation, and inclusive access to information and communication technology.

“The Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework is a practical and strategic response to a long-standing need to equip our people with the capacity to function and grow in an increasingly digital world.

“As we all know, digital literacy has become critical for productivity, job creation, quality service delivery, and national relevance. We cannot afford to watch our State remain on the margins of a technology-driven global order.

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“This framework aims to institutionalize digital learning and ICT integration across education, public service, and commerce sectors. It envisions a State where every student is digitally competent, every civil servant has essential digital skills for governance, and entrepreneurs and local traders are equipped to expand their businesses and access larger markets. We have begun to turn this vision into action.

“Zamfara State partnered with Oracle Corporation to train 3,000 youth in Cloud 2 Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Database Management. With Oracle Academy, our tertiary institutions gain support to produce graduates who are industry-relevant.

“Work has started on the Zamfara Institute of Information Technology (ZIIT) in Gusau. This institute will be a regional center of excellence, offering hands-on ICT education and fostering homegrown innovation. We aim to bridge the digital divide and position Zamfara as the emerging ICT center of Northern Nigeria.”

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Abubakar Nakwada, expressed the state’s commitment to positioning Zamfara as a leader in digital transformation in Northern Nigeria.

Delivering a goodwill message, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (senator representing Zamfara Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications and Digital Economy, commended Zamfara for taking the lead when national development hinges on digital inclusion. The Senator donated 300 computers to ZITDA to support its digital transformation drive across MDA’s.

In an overview of the Zamfara Digital Literacy Framework (ZDLF), Dr Habib Gajam, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency (ZITDA), characterized the framework as a strategic and people-centered document organized around four primary outcomes.

Key federal digital institutions represented at the stakeholder engagement include the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Nigerian Communications Satellite, and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).