NITDA, NWDC, NCC Partner to Boost Digital Skills, Youth Employment in North-West

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the North West Development Commission (NWDC), and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have agreed to deepen collaboration on digital skills development and innovation to enhance youth employability and economic growth in Nigeria’s North-West region.
The partnership was discussed during a high-level meeting between the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Managing Director of the NWDC, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, and the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida.
According to NITDA, the meeting focused on leveraging the NCC Digital Park and its training facilities in Kano to deliver industry-driven digital skills programmes aimed at equipping young Nigerians with practical competencies for employment and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during the meeting, Inuwa said sustainable national development depends on investment in human capital, stressing that digital skills will empower young people to become active contributors to Nigeria’s economy.
He also unveiled plans to establish world-class media and film production studios at the facility to support the growth of Kannywood and Nollywood through advanced digital production technologies. The initiative, he noted, aligns with NITDA’s mandate to build a digitally skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and industrialisation.
Professor Ma’aji welcomed the initiative, describing human capital development as a key solution to youth unemployment, insecurity, and economic exclusion in the North-West and across the country. He urged NITDA and the NCC to strengthen their collaboration and transform the initiative into a flagship national programme.
In his response, Dr. Maida pledged the NCC’s full support, stating that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s goals of promoting digital inclusion, regional development, and economic transformation.
Following the meeting, Professor Ma’aji toured NITDA’s innovation hub, where he interacted with local teams developing indigenous technology solutions. He expressed confidence in NITDA’s innovation ecosystem and its capacity to deliver practical, technology-driven solutions to address developmental challenges in the North-West.