Federal Civil Servants Empowered With Digital Skills

The federal government, in collaboration with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, has reaffirmed its commitment to driving digital innovation to transform the civil service in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

This landmark digital transformation is reshaping how the civil service delivers public value inthe sector.

At the digital upskilling workshop held in Abuja yesterday, a deputy director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Hamza, acknowledged a reality that many civil servants quietly accept.

“I’ve used Microsoft Word for years, but I only knew how to do the basics. I didn’t know half of what was possible,” he said.

Hamza stated that civil servants must develop the skills necessary to adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving digital environment.

He said, “By the end of the programme, I had gained the confidence to interact with a computer end-to-end, adding that he could navigate a laptop with ease, create and manage files, design automated templates, track departmental workflows, collaborate in real time with colleagues across ministries and work confidently with applications he had previously considered ‘too technical.”

His story is one among hundreds, each reflecting the programme’s ability to unlock skills and transform everyday public service work.

During the training, facilitators guided participants through cloud-based collaboration tools that many were encountering for the first time.

Laughter filled the hall as participants watched colleagues type simultaneously on the same document during real-time co-editing exercises.

“It’s like magic,” one participant joked. “But this magic will save us hours every week. Who knows, I may even start working from home like my children.”

The Digital Upskilling Programme, a collaborative initiative by the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Coronation Group and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), is designed to modernise Nigeria’s civil service through practical, hands-on digital skills.

The initiative trained over 400 civil servants drawn from ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

The participants were trained across four core areas: Mastering Microsoft Office productivity tools, Using cloud-based collaboration and communication platform, Understanding enterprise systems such as Electronic Office Management Systems (EOMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, Developing overall digital workplace readiness

These practical modules addressed common bottlenecks in federal offices, from paper-heavy workflows to delayed approvals. Beyond technical skills, the training increased participants’ confidence and buy-in for the broader digitalisation process being rolled out across ministries, he said.”

Many participants experienced the Electronic Content Management Solution (ECMS) for the first time—a platform designed to automate workflows and eliminate manual file movement. They began to appreciate how automation could reduce delays, prevent document loss, and enable real-time tracking of approvals.

This shift has the potential to transform the speed, sustainability, and quality of public service delivery nationwide.

“We cannot wait for the ECMS to be fully implemented alongside these new tools. This is what service should look like,” said a participant from the Ministry of Trade. “You mean I won’t need to climb to the fifth floor just to get a document approved? Reducing a three-day process to three hours is a real transformation.”

The programme’s impact stems from strong collaboration. For the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, the initiative represents a continuation of its role as a key driver of digitalisation in Nigeria’s public service.

Similarly, the deputy director of Programmes at the Foundation, Eniola Olatunbosun, emphasised that “digitalisation is central to building a modern, efficient, and citizen-centred civil service. This training equips officers with the tools to make better decisions and deliver better outcomes.”

Meanwhile, Coronation Group chief marketing and communications officer, Ngon Akinyele, noted that “by supporting this initiative, we strengthen governance, boost investor confidence, and contribute to Nigeria’s economic progress.”

These improvements go beyond efficiency. They foster accountability, innovation, and professional pride. Officers left the programme empowered to drive change, demonstrating that reform is not just policy on paper, but action in practice, he said.

Another participant, Mr Bala, nearing retirement, enrolled for additional training after the programme, explaining that the experience restored his confidence to engage with technology rather than avoid it.

These improvements go beyond efficiency. They foster accountability, innovation, and professional pride. Officers left the programme empowered to drive change, demonstrating that reform is not just policy on paper, but action in practice.

Through the Digital Upskilling Programme, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, OHCSF, and Coronation Group have shown that meaningful change begins with people. Technology may be the tool, but human capacity and collaboration are the true drivers of transformation.

As Nigeria’s civil service embraces this digital shift, the nation moves closer to a modern, efficient, inclusive, and accountable governance system that delivers measurable impact for all citizens.

The initiative also provides a scalable model for digital transformation across the civil service. With over 400 officers trained across three major agencies, it demonstrates how structured, hands-on training can create ripple effects beyond the initial participants.