Technology for Social Change and Development Initiative (Tech4Dev) in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0, Africa’s largest free digital skilling competition aimed at empowering 2 million Nigerians with basic and intermediate digital skills and offering participants the chance to win over 150 million naira in cash and prizes.
The launch which took place in Abuja on Wednesday, strategically coincides with United Nations International Day of Education.
According to the organisers, Tech4Dev, the #DigitalForAllChallenge is structured to promote the learning and proliferation of digital skills in Nigeria through an incentivized structure. This inclusive program is open to participants from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, catering to three distinct categories: Young learners (ages 8-15), Youth (16-45), and Civil Servants nationwide.
The #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0 spans 12 months and is divided into three phases. The first phase is a 6-month Learning Phase that focuses on knowledge acquisition, followed by a 2-month Competition Phase with emphasis on practical application and mastery of the acquired skills – this competition phase happens at state, regional and national level and the final stage is the national grand finale that brings together all regional champions across the 3 target categories; Young Learners, Youth and Civil Servants for the selection of the winners.
Winners in the Young Learners’ category stand a chance to win cash scholarships, with the national winner receiving 10 million Naira, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira. The teacher of the National Winner receives 5 million Naira while an ICT lab would be opened in the National Winner’s school in collaboration with NITDA.
In the Civil Service category, the national winner secures a 10 million Naira cash prize, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira.
For the Youth Category, under the basic level, the national winner secures a 10 million Naira cash prize, the first runner-up will receive 7.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 5 million Naira while the intermediate level of the youth category winner will take home 15 million Naira, the first runner-up will take home 12.5 million Naira, and the second runner-up will receive 10 million Naira.
Following the challenge’s conclusion, a four-month post-challenge phase will support 5,000 beneficiaries. This phase will focus on facilitating jobs, paid internship placements and freelancing opportunities for 1,000 individuals.
Speaking at the launch, Joel Ogunsola, Founder and President of Tech4Dev, emphasized that #DigitalForAllChallenge2.0 is more than a training program. It is a platform to encourage Nigerians to embrace the digital economy and reward people’s commitment towards positive change.
“We believe that digital skills are the bedrock of a brighter future for all Nigerians. That’s why we’re thrilled to launch #DigitalForAllChallenge 2.0, the largest free digital skilling program in Africa, in partnership with the FCDO and NITDA.
“The #DigitalForAllChallenge2.0 is not just about equipping Nigerians with digital skills; it’s about unlocking their potential to drive positive change and be rewarded for it.” Ogunsola said.
Director General, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said, “For me, there’ll never be a more perfect time to have this conversation because we have been investing in advancing digital skills for Nigerians and we believe that if we want to make impact and create value, we need to work as a team, hence, the reason we partnered with Tech4Dev on this #DigitalForAllChallenge journey.
“We want every Nigerian to have access to digital education and if we want to develop digital skills from basic to advance level, we feel that through a challenge of this sort that will be interesting for youth to be part of, we can get millions of Nigerians trained.”
Deputy High Commissioner, FCDO, Mrs Gill Lever added, “I wholeheartedly commend this initiative as a beacon of progress in Nigeria’s digital landscape. Its potential to bridge the digital divide and empower millions is truly remarkable. I am confident that by the competition’s culmination, we will witness a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital landscape, with millions equipped with the skills and confidence to navigate the ever-evolving digital world.”
The program’s first edition sponsored by Microsoft took place in 2022, with the winner of the intermediate category, Theresa Sunday from Lagos, winning 2.5 million naira, while Nelson Didam from Kaduna State, emerged as the winner in the basic category taking home 1 million naira.