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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at expanding digital literacy access to Almajiri and out-of-school children across Nigeria.
The collaboration is designed to address the growing challenge of educational exclusion among vulnerable children by integrating digital skills into existing Almajiri education structures, a move both agencies say is critical to improving inclusion and reducing long-term social vulnerability.
The agreement was reached during a visit by the Executive Secretary of NCAOOSCE, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris, to NITDA headquarters in Abuja, where he met with NITDA Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa.
According to NITDA, the initiative will be driven through its Digital Literacy for All programme, which seeks to provide Nigerians with foundational and intermediate digital competencies needed in today’s economy.
What the partnership means
During the meeting, Idris highlighted major pressures facing the Almajiri system, including parental neglect, widespread street begging, and the persistent rise in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
He noted that without structured intervention, millions of affected children risk being permanently excluded from the country’s economic and technological future.
To respond to this gap, NITDA proposed deploying digital literacy training through NCAOOSCE’s established network of centres nationwide.
Part of the implementation strategy includes the use of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members trained as digital literacy champions, who will serve as facilitators in Almajiri learning centres.
The agencies also plan to establish digital learning hubs where children can receive training ranging from basic computer use to more advanced digital competencies.
Why this matters
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, and experts have repeatedly warned that the exclusion of Almajiri children from formal and digital education deepens poverty and unemployment risks.
By embedding technology training into non-traditional education systems, the partnership could create a pathway for thousands of marginalised children to access future jobs, entrepreneurship opportunities, and wider participation in the digital economy.
Both agencies said a joint implementation committee has been set up to coordinate rollout and ensure the programme delivers measurable impact across target communities.
