Kogi youth gain digital skills training to steer clear of cybercrime

NITDA and the Kogi State Government have agreed to work together on digital literacy programs, cybersecurity awareness efforts and youth capacity development initiatives aimed at steering young people away from internet fraud and into productive roles in the digital economy.

The partnership was reached during a strategic meeting at NITDA’s headquarters in Abuja. It forms part of a prevention-focused approach that prioritizes education and skills over enforcement alone.

Policy backdrop and state actions

This move aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020–2030), which calls for schools to incorporate training on emerging technologies and for expanded capacity building of individuals, MSMEs and digital enterprises through e-learning channels. NITDA has already rolled out related tools such as the Digital Trustmark Seal, developed with NACCIMA and GIZ to help verify authentic online platforms and reduce fraud exposure.

Kogi State had already begun its own anti-internet fraud campaign before the Abuja meeting. The state government flagged off the effort at Government House in Lokoja and called for the creation of Anti-Internet Fraud Campaign Clubs in schools and tertiary institutions across the state. Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo was represented at the launch by Secretary to the State Government Mrs. Folashade Ayoade Arike.

Broader NITDA cybersecurity push

The new Kogi partnership sits alongside other NITDA efforts to strengthen online safety. These include promotion of the Digital Trustmark Seal and work on the draft Online Harm Protection Bill, which seeks to establish a legal framework covering online harms, misinformation, surveillance capitalism and algorithmic bias. NITDA has also urged government MDAs to improve cyber resilience across digital infrastructure.

Officials frame the Kogi agreement as part of the Federal Government’s wider vision for a secure, inclusive and thriving digital economy. The collaboration will focus on practical training that equips young people with marketable digital skills rather than leaving them vulnerable to recruitment into cybercrime networks.

Implementation outlook

No specific timelines, budgets or named lead officials for the joint programs were released in the announcement. The emphasis remains on coordination between federal and state levels to expand access to digital literacy and cybersecurity education in Kogi schools and communities.

Related NITDA initiatives, such as the Digital Trustmark Seal and the draft Online Harm Protection Bill, continue in parallel and may provide additional resources or frameworks that the Kogi programs can draw upon.