* Partners FG, Microsoft, and Tech4Dev
The Enugu State government is on a mission to enhance its workforce with a robust digital proficiency programme. The forward-thinking state is currently implementing the Digital Skills Nigeria (DSN) programme for civil servants to foster digital literacy within the civil service, driving improved efficiency and productivity in meeting the state’s developmental targets.
This programme is a collaboration between the Enugu State government, Microsoft, the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, and Tech4Dev.
The initial training, conducted over a two-week period for the first batch, held at two key newly created Digital-Skill Enhancement Zones (D-SEZ) located at Enugu State College of Education (Technical) and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu.
The comprehensive curriculum covered five key modules: Working with Computers, Accessing Information Online, Communicating and Participating Safely Online, Microsoft Word and Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Cybersecurity fundamentals, among others.
So far, the first batch has trained 2,000 civil servants from state, federal, and local levels in Enugu State. The Enugu State government plans to train up to 10,000 civil servants by the last quarter of the year (Q4, 2024). According to the Enugu SME Center & Office of Digital Economy, the facilitator of the program on behalf of the Enugu State Government, the primary targets for the training are civil servants between the ages of 21 to 45 years.
The civil servants from the first cohort were selected for training after a thorough assessment process identified those with limited digital skills and foundational digital literacy. Upon completion of the DSN program, they are expected to enhance their digital competencies and become more proficient and efficient in their roles.
The DSN programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and reflects the Enugu State administration’s commitment to innovation and human capital development. By fostering digital literacy, the program aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service, support e-government infrastructure, and contribute to sustainable economic growth and job creation in Nigeria.
Experienced professionals, who facilitated the instructor-led learning at the training, assured that the program will have far-reaching impacts on the participants. These include ushering in civil servants with essential digital skills, enhancing government services, and equipping the workforce for the future of work, as well as facilitating easy evaluations for promotions and career advancements.
Riding on the success of the maiden edition, the organisers noted that the second phase will involve the trained civil servants teaching their peers, who must pass an assessment to receive certification.
Speaking on the training, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, remarked, “the modernisation of the public service is key to our administration. We are embarking on training and retraining of public and civil servants to optimise productivity and imbibe the right work culture necessary for the achievements we plan for Enugu State.”
This sentiment was further reiterated by the Special Adviser on Digital Economy and MSMEs & DG, Enugu SME Centre, Mr. Arinze Chilo-Offiah, who emphasised the importance of the programme in driving the state’s digital transformation and economic growth.
