Abuja: Some Information and Communication (ICT) experts have advocated targeted skills, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive policy if Nigeria would benefit from the huge global opportunities presented by automation. They said this in interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, automation and smart technologies in today’s world are reshaping roles, redefining values, and requiring new forms of expertise. A Web Developer and Founder, Texth Hub, Ms. Safiya Ahmed, highlighted that the workplace is undergoing significant structural changes, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. By focusing on skills development, collaboration, and adaptability, Nigeria could build a workforce equipped to participate meaningfully in a digital economy, contributing to a more resilient and inclusive future of work. Ahmed noted, “Automation is shifting routine tasks to machines so that people can focus on creativity. Success will depend on how fast organisations adopt technology, but much more on how effectively the organisations build the human capabilities to use it.”
Ms. Ahmed further explained that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are already enhancing productivity across various sectors. In manufacturing, AI is streamlining repetitive processes, while in healthcare, it improves diagnostics and enables telemedicine. She added that the office environment is now a network of collaboration rather than a single location, with technology extending human reach when paired with targeted training and workplace redesign.
Additionally, Content Creator Femi Bode emphasized that technology is becoming more flexible and connected, as digital tools enable remote collaboration across borders. This flexibility allows employers to tap into global talent, while workers gain access to new markets. Bode remarked, “No single company can master every component of a complex system. Small, agile firms and specialist providers are filling niche roles-designing software modules, providing data services, or building components for larger projects. Collaboration across sectors is becoming a defining feature of innovation.”
Software developer Ali Sale suggested that a coordinated approach between education, government, and industry could align curricula to meet real workplace needs, expand apprenticeships and micro-credentials, and fund teacher training and lab resources. Sale stressed the importance of public policy in prioritizing affordable internet access, school-to-work pipelines, and incentives for lifelong learning to address Nigeria’s skills gap, which reflects a disconnection between classrooms and employers.
Ali Dadi, a computer science teacher, argued that digital skills should be foundational rather than optional, advocating for education and training to evolve faster. He observed that in many schools, digital literacy is still taught as an elective rather than a core competency. Early exposure to coding, data literacy, and computational thinking prepares young people for diverse careers. Dadi suggested practical steps such as expanding STEM and digital literacy in schools, scaling vocational training, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, and improving broadband access and digital infrastructure to build human capabilities like creativity, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and continuous learning, which will be the real competitive advantage.