NITDA: Nigerian Curriculum Needs Overhaul To Meet 21st-Century Needs

The director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)Kashifu Inuwa, is urging for an overhaul of curriculums across all levels to meet 21st-century digital skills.

Mr Inuwa made the call on Friday during a meeting in Abuja with the management team of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC)led by its executive secretary, Ismail Junaidu.

The DG said the review would be in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to create millions of jobs by leveraging digital technologies and achieving a digital literacy rate of 70 per cent by 2027.

“Digital technology has an important role to play in the design of the curriculum, content and processes due to the evolution of technology.

“Disruptive technology has substituted the way of doing things worldwide, of which Nigeria as a country is not to be left behind.

“We must lead in developing a competency-based, outcome-focused curriculum that addresses the demands of the 21st century.

“This will enable us to produce a skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of the Nigerian market and attracting investment from other countries,” he said.

The NITDA boss said integrating digital skills into the curriculum is crucial for national development and economic growth.

Mr Inuwa further said that government policies and objectives, especially those related to sustainable development, 21st-century skills, the digital economy, creative arts, and digital technology, would create a pathway for nation-building.

Earlier, Mr Junaidu, the NERDC executive secretary, stated that they were charged with the primary responsibility of curriculum development for the country at all levels.

However, he said it required the inclusion of digital literacy as a critical area for any country’s development.

The ES noted that the visit was to scale up the existing partnership and explore potential areas where both organisations could join forces for national development.

Mr Junaidu added that the institution was also responsible for undertaking and promoting book development.

He further said the institution was also responsible for local authorship for quality assurance, conducting educational research for public policy formulation and implementation and developing Nigerian languages.