NiRA bridges digital skills gap with practical training

The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), through its training and capacity development arm, .ng Academy, has intensified efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital skills gap with a hands-on workshop held at the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) RISE 2026 International Conference.

The pre-conference workshop brought together professionals, entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts to acquire practical digital skills aimed at improving productivity and enhancing competitiveness in the country’s fast-growing digital economy.

According to NiRA, despite the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s digital economy, many professionals and business owners still lack the practical skills required to maximise digital tools and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The association noted that continuous upskilling has become critical as AI-powered solutions reshape workplaces and businesses.

The workshop was designed to complement the discussions at the NCS RISE 2026 Conference by providing participants with practical knowledge they could immediately apply in their careers and businesses.

Participants underwent training in two major areas: the use of AI-powered virtual assistants to improve workflow automation and productivity, and social media branding and marketing strategies to strengthen digital visibility and business growth.

President of NiRA, Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s digital future.

“Nigeria’s digital economy will only grow as fast as the skills of the people driving it. At NiRA, we see .ng Academy as a direct investment in that growth, giving professionals and entrepreneurs practical tools they can apply immediately in their businesses and careers. Initiatives like this workshop are how we translate national digital economy ambitions into everyday, on-the-ground capability,” he said.

Also speaking, Vice President of NiRA, Mr. MurtallaAbdulahi, said the training enabled participants to connect digital skills with real business opportunities.

“What stood out at this workshop was how quickly participants connected the training to real opportunity from automating their workflows to building stronger brands online. This is exactly the kind of grassroots capacity building that strengthens Nigeria’s digital economy from within, and NiRA remains committed to scaling these programmes to reach even more Nigerians,” he said.

NiRA said the workshop demonstrates its commitment to promoting digital inclusion and innovation through industry-focused training, strategic partnerships and practical capacity-building initiatives.

The association expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), facilitators, participants and other stakeholders for supporting the successful delivery of the programme.

It reaffirmed its commitment to expanding initiatives that will develop digital talent, foster innovation and build a globally competitive workforce capable of driving Nigeria’s digital economy.

.ng Academy is the training and capacity development arm of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, established to equip Nigerians with practical digital skills through industry-focused workshops, training programmes and strategic partnerships. NiRA is the registry responsible for managing Nigeria’s country code top-level domain (.ng) and promoting internet development, digital innovation and internet governance across the country.