By Salami Abdulrahaman | Abuja
July 21, 2026
Nigeria’s digital transformation journey recorded another milestone on Monday as Cisco Networking Academy celebrated reaching one million learners in the country, with Cisco and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) reaffirming their commitment to expanding digital skills and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading digital talent hub.
Speaking at the celebration, Brian Tippens, Senior Vice President, Cisco Social Impact and Sustainability, described the achievement as a strong example of how strategic partnerships can transform lives through technology education.
Tippens said the one million learners represent more than a numerical milestone, noting that they reflect the growing impact of digital education in equipping Nigerians with globally relevant skills in networking, cybersecurity, information technology and emerging technologies.
He said Cisco remains committed to expanding access to quality digital education, particularly for young people, women and underserved communities, adding that digital skills are essential to economic growth, innovation and sustainable development.
“The future belongs to those with digital skills. Through Cisco Networking Academy, we are creating opportunities for millions of people to learn, innovate and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the global economy,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Abdelaziz Saidu, Country General Manager for Cisco Nigeria and Ghana, described the one-million-learner milestone as a significant achievement that reflects Cisco’s long-standing investment in developing Nigeria’s digital workforce.
He said Cisco Networking Academy has continued to provide training in networking, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, empowering young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills needed to compete in today’s global economy.
Saidu reaffirmed Cisco’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with government, educational institutions and the private sector to bridge the digital skills gap and create greater opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and employment across Nigeria and Ghana.
Representing the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Oladejo Olawumi, Director of Digital Development Services, described Cisco’s achievement as a national milestone that demonstrates the impact of collaboration among government, industry, academia and development partners in building an inclusive digital economy.
The NITDA representative noted that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, robotics, automation and data technologies is reshaping the future of work globally. Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, he said technological transformation is expected to create 170 million new jobs worldwide by 2030, making digital skills a critical driver of economic competitiveness.
He added that Nigeria’s youthful population presents a unique opportunity, provided citizens are equipped with the digital competencies needed to innovate, compete and create value in the global economy.
The representative highlighted NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework and the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) Initiative, which aim to achieve 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 percent by 2030.
He disclosed that NITDA’s collaboration with Cisco has produced significant results, including the integration of digital literacy programmes into tertiary institutions nationwide. Nasarawa State University, Keffi, has recorded more than 15,000 student enrolments, while 185 lecturers at Jigawa State Polytechnic have been trained to deliver digital literacy courses. Similar instructor training has also commenced at the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Rivers State.
He further revealed that more than 9,400 teachers, 54,000 federal civil servants and over 712,000 Nigerians in the informal sector have benefited from NITDA’s digital literacy programmes. In addition, 16,432 NYSC Digital Literacy Champions have been recruited to extend digital skills training to communities across the country, with Cisco providing professional training in networking, cybersecurity and IT Essentials.
According to the NITDA representative, the NITDA-Cisco partnership has also recorded more than 215,000 enrolments within two years across programmes covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, networking, data science, entrepreneurship, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation.
The speakers agreed that while reaching one million learners is a remarkable achievement, the next phase should focus on translating digital skills into economic opportunities through job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation and stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry.
The celebration underscored the shared commitment of Cisco and NITDA to building a digitally empowered workforce and positioning Nigeria as a leading source of globally competitive technology talent and innovation in Africa.
