The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening youth online safety and digital literacy through a strategic partnership with Meta to promote digital trust and inclusion.
Inuwa, represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, stated this on Thursday at the Youth Safety Summit organised by Meta in Abuja.
The summit brought together stakeholders from government, industry, civil society organisations and the education sector to deepen collaboration on ensuring safer and age-appropriate online experiences for young Nigerians.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the Youth Online Safety Campaign and My Digital World (MDW) 2.0, developed by Meta in partnership with NITDA and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.
According to Inuwa, the collaboration aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on inclusive economic growth and strengthening national security through enhanced cybersecurity.
He said developing a digitally skilled population capable of navigating the internet safely would unlock innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation and broader economic opportunities.
Speaking on the theme, “Advancing Youth Online Safety Through Collaborative Action,” the NITDA boss stressed that protecting young people online requires collective responsibility.
”Today’s theme is both timely and compelling. It reminds us that while digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and social connection, ensuring that young people can benefit from these opportunities safely is a shared responsibility,” he said.
He noted that digital literacy must go hand in hand with online safety.
”At NITDA, we believe that digital literacy and online safety are inseparable. Equipping citizens with digital skills without teaching them how to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly and ethically would leave our work incomplete,” Inuwa added.
He explained that the agency’s National Digital Literacy Framework and the Digital Literacy for All initiative target 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
According to him, online safety, digital citizenship, privacy, digital wellbeing, critical thinking and Artificial Intelligence literacy are now core competencies under the framework.
Inuwa described NITDA’s collaboration with Meta as a model for effective public-private partnership, noting that their Youth Online Safety and Wellbeing Campaign reached over 94 million people and generated more than 216 million impressions across Facebook and Instagram.
He added that both organisations also partnered during Safer Internet Day activities to empower members of the National Youth Service Corps as advocates of responsible digital behaviour.
The NITDA boss expressed optimism that My Digital World 2.0 would strengthen online safety education across Nigeria.
”We believe MDW 2.0 presents an excellent opportunity to institutionalise online safety education within Nigeria’s broader digital literacy ecosystem,” he said.
He disclosed that the agency plans to integrate the programme into teacher capacity-building initiatives, strengthen its Digital Literacy Champions network and expand awareness campaigns through partnerships with state governments, traditional institutions, faith-based organisations and communities.
According to him, ensuring children’s online safety requires informed parents, empowered teachers and digitally aware communities.
”Today’s launch is more than the unveiling of another programme. It is the beginning of a deeper strategic collaboration between government and industry to build a generation of Nigerians who are digitally skilled, digitally responsible and digitally resilient,” he said.
Also at the event, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, pledged continued collaboration with stakeholders to promote a safe, inclusive and secure digital environment for young Nigerians.
NITDA, Meta strengthen partnership on youth online safety, digital literacy
