The ministry of communications, innovation and digital economy has trained 438 civil servants from different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on digital transformation.

The one-day training, which was held on Friday in Abuja in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), had the theme “Enabling Digital Government Transformation: Leadership, Training and Citizen-Centric Systems”.

William Scheffers, a director at TG Consulting, who spoke on the topic “Strategies for IT Training in Digital Government Transformation” said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) was a necessity for government officials.

Mr Scheffers said that without ICT skills, governments risked falling behind in delivering efficient and secure services.

“Governments are under pressure to digitise services and improve citizen experience. ICT training ensures that staff can operate, maintain and innovate with new systems.

“Skills gaps lead to inefficiencies, data risks and wasted investments in IT. Trained officials are more adaptable in responding to new policy and citizen needs,” he said.

He said that ICT training challenges in government would lower digital skills, adding that resistance to change undermines ICT upskilling.

According to him, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud adoption will help in shaping ICT training for civil servants.

“It will demand smarter, faster and more practical training,” he said.

Mr Scheffers said that rising cyber threats make cybersecurity training essential.

He said that cloud adoption required new competencies in security, architecture and operations.

“Data analytics and AI literacy are increasingly demanded in policy design and execution.

“There is a shift toward microlearning, online platforms and hybrid delivery,” he said.

Earlier, the deputy director of the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), Myeongseok Song, said that the training focused on introducing Korea and its government and sharing knowledge, innovation and achievements over the years.

Mr Song said that Korea’s new strategy was for citizens, enterprises and governments to solve issues together and create new value through a digital platform which connects all their data.

“We just want to talk about the digital, the government, and the advanced AI, and eventually, we expect to make a more advanced perspective and idea for the government,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Adetokunbo Adebola, head of data strategy and research for the vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, described the training as appropriate and timely for civil servants in the country.

Mr Adebola commended the minister of communication, innovation and digital economy, Bosun Tijani, for his efforts and the push to bring some programmes that will help the citizens in terms of ICT.

(NAN)