Nigeria’s NITDA Partners with Benue State to Drive Digital Literacy and Smart Education

The Benue Digital Infrastructure Company PLC (BDIC)  and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)  have signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at significantly enhancing digital infrastructure, smart learning, and digital literacy across Benue State. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalized today at NITDA headquarters in Abuja, with Mr. Gbande Hembaor Terwase, Managing Director/CEO of BDIC, and Mr. Sarafa Lawal, Acting Director General/CEO of NITDA, signing the accord.

This collaboration lays the groundwork for a series of joint undertakings designed to foster a robust digital ecosystem. Key aspects of the partnership include regular senior operational meetings to exchange insights on industry developments and community needs. Both organizations also commit to information sharing to improve public understanding and disaster information management, alongside initiatives focused on enhancing efficiency in information exchange. A mutual commitment to fulfilling all agreed actions in good faith, even in the face of operational challenges, underpins the agreement.

NITDA is set to provide crucial technical and infrastructural support across several vital areas. This support will facilitate the domestication of the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) in Benue State, ensuring state programs align with Nigeria’s broader national digital vision. Additionally, NITDA will back the establishment of 15 pilot smart secondary schools, where cutting-edge digital skills, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and coding, will be integrated into the curriculum, consistent with the digital education policy of the Benue State Government under Governor Reverend Father Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

Furthermore, NITDA’s support extends to BDIC’s ambitious “One Student, One Teacher, One Computer, One Digital Skill + Certification” initiative, designed to promote inclusive and certified digital learning throughout the state. This partnership is viewed as a critical step in BDIC’s mission to make digital knowledge accessible, impactful, and transformative for all learners, leveraging national-level technical strength for Benue State’s digital education revolution.