The Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) has commenced the training of about 10,000 workers in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, aimed at strengthening digital literacy and building the capacity of the workforce in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The programme, known as the 2025 Advanced Digital Empowerment Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADEPTI), targets 100 staff members in each of 100 tertiary institutions that have already subscribed to the annual initiative.
The training began on Monday at the University of Ilesa, Osun State, alongside three other centres nationwide: the Nigerian Army University, Biu, Borno State; the Rivers State School of Nursing Sciences and Management Technology, Rumueme, Port Harcourt; and the Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.
Fully sponsored by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and implemented by DBI, the initiative is designed to help staff of tertiary institutions acquire skills in adopting and applying ICT tools in teaching and research.
Declaring the programme open at the University of Ilesa centre, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, described ADEPTI as a collaborative initiative that underscores the commitment of the Federal Government and institutions to advancing technological proficiency among their workforce.
“In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, advanced digital skills are crucial for quality teaching, learning, and research in tertiary institutions,” he said. According to him, digital visibility and proficiency significantly influence global and national university rankings, reputation, education delivery, and research outputs.
He noted that the ADEPTI workshop aligns with the university’s vision, focusing on critical areas such as data analysis and visualization, digital skills, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Prof. Asaolu expressed confidence that the expertise of resource persons would enhance participants’ digital competencies and inspire innovative approaches to technology integration.
While commending the NCC and DBI for their commitment, he urged participants to engage fully with the training, stressing that the knowledge and skills acquired would have far-reaching impacts on their professional lives, their institutions, and Nigerian tertiary education at large.
Also speaking, the centre coordinator, Prince Soji-Eze Fagbemi—who represented DBI President/CEO, David Daser—emphasized that the programme was fully funded by the NCC and executed by DBI, Nigeria’s foremost ICT training and telecoms education centre.
He outlined the objectives and guidelines of the ADEPTI initiative and encouraged participants to maximize the opportunity to improve their teaching and research outcomes.
“I urge all participants to give this training the attention and commitment it deserves. As we embark on this transformative learning journey, I assure you that our instructors will deliver the content effectively to achieve the expected outcomes,” Fagbemi said.
He commended the NCC for its consistent sponsorship and praised the management of participating universities for their commitment to capacity development.
Expressing optimism about the impact of the programme, Fagbemi said, “At the end of the five-day training, we expect to have significantly enhanced your knowledge base and skills.”
