ABUJA — The Federal Government has trained more than 400 civil servants in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and digital leadership as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s public service and improve government productivity.
The training programme, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), was held at the Digital Economy Complex in Mbora, Abuja.
Declaring the programme open, the Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said digital skills, AI knowledge and cybersecurity have become essential for Nigerian civil servants to meet global standards, strengthen governance and enhance public service delivery.
Represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, the minister said the initiative, organised under the Devs in Government programme, is aimed at equipping public servants with the technological expertise needed to effectively implement government policies in an increasingly digital world.
According to him, governments across the globe are leveraging artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve policymaking, service delivery and citizen engagement, making it imperative for Nigerian public servants to develop the skills required to keep pace with global developments.
“Technology alone does not transform institutions. Sustainable transformation happens when capable people are empowered by visionary leadership and supported by effective systems and governance structures,” he said.
The minister described the July 2026 edition of the Digitalisation in Government Community Engagement programme as timely, noting that its theme, “Building the Skills, Leadership, and Systems for the Digital and AI Era,” reflects the growing need to prepare public servants to lead innovation across government institutions.
He explained that the Digitalisation in Government Community, established in February 2024, has grown into a collaborative platform bringing together technologists and digital professionals from more than 100 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), helping to foster knowledge sharing and accelerate digital transformation within the public sector.
Dr. Tijani urged participants to embrace continuous learning, engage actively with facilitators and apply the knowledge gained to improve efficiency and service delivery in their respective organisations.
“We are not merely users of technology; we are architects of public value. Every digital solution we design, every process we improve and every innovation we introduce ultimately affects the lives of millions of Nigerians,” he said.
The training featured three specialised sessions led by Prof. Jaeshin Park of the College of Business Administration, Kookmin University, South Korea; Dr. Williams Scheffers of Botswana; and Korean ICT expert Mr. Minju No. Participants received certificates upon completing the programme.
The sessions focused on institutional leadership, governance and organisational change in the AI era, opening digital public services to private platforms, cybersecurity, and developing leadership and digital competencies for modern public administration.
Also speaking at the event, KOICA Senior Deputy Director, Mr. Bayi Kiyong, representing the Country Director, Mr. Kim Eunsub, stressed that digital transformation depends not only on technology but also on well-trained people with the leadership capacity and practical skills to navigate an increasingly technology-driven environment.
He said the programme was designed to build a resilient public sector capable of responding to emerging technological challenges while supporting Nigeria’s long-term digital transformation agenda.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with international development organisations such as KOICA and the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) to build an innovative, inclusive and digitally enabled public service equipped for the AI era.
Comments