The National Information Development Agency (NITDA) has proposed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) offer short digital skills training to students.
Mr Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, made this statement during a visit to their Abuja office by the NELFUND team, led by Executive Secretary Mr Akintunde Sawyer.
NELFUND, which is in charge of handling the student loan programme, sought thoughts from NITDA and demonstrated its platform for criticism.
Inuwa emphasised the importance of digital literacy, stating that it prepares students to negotiate the changing digital landscape, which increasingly prioritises practical skills above traditional academic credentials.
He advocated for digital training to enhance citizens’ capabilities with globally sought-after skills, potentially making Nigeria a significant contributor to the global talent pool.
He also highlighted the necessity of partnership among educational institutions, businesses, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and the government, underlining that these entities must unite to cultivate a thriving ecosystem.
“Higher institutions of learning produce the human capital. So, they need to be worked with closely because they need to understand the skills in demand.
“Corporate organisations absorb the human capital by employing them or buying products from entrepreneurs.
“Entrepreneurs can be students, dropouts, or anybody who has an idea that meets a need.
“Any gap between the institution and corporate organisations will make it difficult to place graduates on jobs.
“This is because most of our graduates cannot fit into the private sector unless by undergo these short courses,’’ the Director-general said.
He also stated that venture capitalists should be encouraged to invest, as Nigeria’s technological ecosystem accounts for more than 30% of foreign direct investment (FDI).
According to him, the United States accounts for 70% of the total investment.
He stated that the organisation would establish seed funding for startups to attract indigenous venture capitalists.
He remembered that the agency was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education to examine tertiary institution curricula to match the needs of the ecosystem.
The NITDA boss praised the effort put into developing the NELFUND web, suggesting that it be made mobile-friendly for ease of use.
Inuwa reassured NELFUND of the agency’s commitment by providing the necessary support to carry out its mandate.
Earlier, Sawyer said the initiative was intended to connect many Nigerians to the fund to obtain tertiary education and refund payment after their one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme.
He said, “Our mission is to strive to revolutionize higher education accessibility in Nigeria by providing interest-free loans to eligible students.
“We want to help as many people as possible get to the next level as it will benefit individuals, institutions, and the nation at large.”