Abuja: The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has announced plans to establish a fully accredited Digital Academy aimed at equipping Nigerians of all ages with essential digital skills. Mrs. Lucy Abagi, the Chief Executive Officer of PPDC, revealed this development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stating that the initiative is designed to boost efficiency and enhance global competitiveness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the academy will be accessible to participants from as young as five years old to adults, providing a wide array of digital skills training. Mrs. Abagi highlighted the indispensable nature of digital skills in Nigeria’s growing economy, referring to them as crucial tools for navigating, creating, and managing information in today’s technology-driven world.
Mrs. Abagi emphasized that PPDC is predominantly technology-driven, with nearly every activity incorporating a technology component. She noted the increasing global demand for tech skills and predicted that the global market will soon look to Nigeria for skilled professionals.
She pointed out the rapid growth of internet usage, even at the community level, which underscores the urgency for long-term investments in digital capacity building. As digital transformation continues to evolve, she stressed the need for tech-driven organizations to have the requisite skills to sustain and manage their products.
Building on its ongoing initiatives for safer internet and online capacity-building, PPDC is expanding its vision with the creation of the PPDC Digital Academy. Mrs. Abagi mentioned that around 20 young Nigerians have already benefited from the academy during its pilot phase, and plans are underway to launch another pilot in 2026 while finalizing accreditation to enable the center to certify its trainees.
Mrs. Abagi expressed the goal of making the academy fully accredited and is currently setting up structures to ensure certification for beneficiaries, starting with at least two courses in the first phase. The academy aims to not only strengthen PPDC’s work but also provide Nigerians with opportunities to compete effectively in the global digital arena.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that PPDC, a citizen-oriented organization, was established in 2003.