Tech4Dev, a leading non-profit driving digital skills empowerment, advocacy and adoption across Africa, has marked another milestone with the successful conclusion of the Digital for All Challenge 2.0 (DFA 2.0); Africa’s largest digital skilling competition, with about a million Nigerian reached across the country through awareness, training, assessment, and competition.
The Digital for All Challenge 2.0, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is an incentivized national digital literacy and skills-building initiative designed to equip Nigerians with the knowledge and tools to thrive in a technology-driven world and improve economic livelihood. The DFA 2.0 campaign was created by Tech4Dev to drive digital adoption in Nigeria through an incentivized learning model across three main categories: Youth (Basic and Intermediate), Civil Servants, and K-12 (young learners aged 8–18), with Youth intermediate cutting across five (5) learning tracks: digital and social media marketing, product design, software development, data analysis, and cybersecurity and also providing participants with opportunities to showcase their skills through competitions.
The competition was organized across 3 levels: State, regional and the national (which was the grand finale). Out of 15,191 participants who took part in the state-level assessments, 265 advanced to the regional competitions, culminating in the selection of 46 finalists across the six geo-political zones.
In her welcome address at the grand finale, Oladiwura Oladepo, Co-founder and Executive Director of Tech4Dev, applauded the success of the program and underscored the vision behind the initiative. “The DFA campaign was born from a vision to revolutionize how education and digital skilling are valued in Africa, ensuring they are celebrated and rewarded with the same prestige and excitement as entertainment. Our mission is to offer transformative prizes substantial enough to inspire and motivate individuals to pursue digital literacy, unlocking their potential and driving economic transformation across the continent. We aim to empower individuals, uplift families, and strengthen nations by equipping Africans with future-ready digital skills. DFA 2.0 is a bold national movement for inclusive digital empowerment, creating expansive opportunities, fostering innovation, and proving that meaningful rewards for education can reshape livelihoods and fuel Africa’s economic future.”
In the grand finale which held in Abuja, 4 winners and 8 runnerups representing all 6 geopolitical zones emerged across all categories taking home a combined ₦150 million worth of cash and in-kind prizes, one of the largest reward pools for a digital skilling initiative in Africa.
In the K-12 category, Abdulhameed Ibrahim, representing Plateau State, emerged as the winner, with Al-Amin Bashir from Kaduna State and Samuel Urah from Lagos State as runners-up. The Youth Basic category was won by Ahmad Almustapha, representing Sokoto State, followed by Emmanuel Ajayi from Kwara State and Olalekan Oladiran from Osun State. In the Civil Servants category, Opeyemi Oyebowale, representing Ogun State, emerged winner, ahead of OluchiChibueze from Abia State and Zakariyya Ibrahim from Niger State.
The Youth Intermediate category, which showcased advanced digital skills, was won by Miracle Michael, representing Niger State, with Chinedum Chimezie from Imo State and Ismail Muhammad from Jigawa State taking second and third place respectively.
The Grand Finale drew the presence of key dignitaries and partners whose support was pivotal to the success of the program. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), funders of DFA 2.0, was represented by Idongesit Udoh, UK International Development Digital Access Programme Adviser, underscoring the UK’s commitment to advancing youth employability and digital inclusion in Nigeria. Idongesit, speaking on behalf of FCDO, said:
“There is still a significant gap between those who possess digital skills and those who do not, and bridging this divide is critical for Nigeria’s growth. That is why digital skilling initiatives like the Digital for All Challenge 2.0 are so important. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to supporting Nigeria’s digital skills growth, and we are proud to back initiatives like this that expand opportunities for young people to thrive in today’s digital economy.”
The Honourable Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing digital skills as a cornerstone for job creation, youth empowerment, and national development.
“The Federal Government recognizes the central role digital skills play in shaping the future of work,” said Minister Onyejeocha. “Our priority is to equip Nigeria’s workforce with future-ready skills that align with global labour market demands. We are committed to building stronger collaborations between government, the private sector, and development partners to scale initiatives like this and unlock greater opportunities for our young people.”
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), represented by its Director of Stakeholder Management, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, also emphasized the agency’s role as a strategic partner in driving digital literacy across Nigeria.
“NITDA’s mandate is to create an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion,” Onumo stated. “Initiatives such as this DFA 2.0 perfectly align with our vision of building a digitally empowered society and a knowledge-based economy. We will continue to support programs that bridge the digital divide and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a fully digital economy.”
The School of Computing at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), serving as the official Assessment Quality Validation Partner, further reinforced the credibility and transparency of the competition through its independent oversight.
The partners commended Tech4Dev for leading one of Nigeria’s most impactful digital literacy programs, calling DFA 2.0 a landmark initiative that widened access to digital skills and prepared participants for global competitiveness.A key highlight of DFA 2.0 was the Civil Servants category, designed to build institutional capacity and boost public service delivery by equipping government workers with vital digital skills required for 21st century workforce and to promote effective and efficient service provision through improved and enhanced digital literacy.
Tech4Dev remains committed to expanding digital literacy, strengthening institutions, and empowering Nigerians to thrive in the digital economy. Through flagship programs like Women Techsters, the Developers Foundry Fellowship, and other initiatives, Tech4Dev is creating pathways for inclusive growth and building future-ready talent across Africa.
