The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and digital skills have become essential for Nigerian civil servants to meet global standards and improve productivity.
Tijani, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Nadungu Gagare, spoke at the Digital Economy Complex, Mbora, Abuja, while declaring open a training programme for over 400 civil servants drawn from federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), weekend.
The training, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), covered three sessions: institutional leadership and governance in the AI era; opening digital public services to private platforms and cybersecurity; and building leadership skills for the digital era.
The sessions were handled by Professor Jaeshin Park of Kookmin University, South Korea; Dr Williams Scheffers of Botswana; and Mr Minju No, an ICT expert from Korea. Participants received certificates at the end of the exercise.
Tijani said the training, held under the ‘Devs in Government’ initiative, was designed to equip civil servants who drive government policy with the technological skills needed for their assignments.
He described the July 2026 edition of the Digitalisation in Government Community Engagement as timely, adding that digital transformation succeeds only when capable people are backed by effective institutions and visionary leadership.
‘Around the world, artificial intelligence and digital technologies are reshaping how governments design policies, deliver services and engage citizens,’ he said. ‘Technology alone does not transform institutions. Sustainable transformation happens when capable people are empowered by visionary leadership and effective systems.’
He said the Digitalisation in Government Community, established in February 2024, now brings together technologists from more than 100 MDAs, helping break institutional silos and accelerate digital transformation. He urged participants to embrace continuous learning and apply lessons from the training to their work.
‘We are not merely users of technology; we are architects of public value,’ he said, adding that every digital solution designed ultimately affects the lives of millions of Nigerians.
The Minister commended KOICA and the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) for their sustained partnership in strengthening Nigeria’s digital capacity, and called for continued collaboration to build an inclusive, resilient and digitally enabled public service.
KOICA’s Senior Deputy Director, Bayi Kiyong, who represented Country Director Kim Eunsub, said technology does not automatically transform institutions, people do, adding that capacity building and leadership training remain essential for navigating the fast-evolving digital space. He praised the government for sustaining the programme.