Welcome to the Digital Literacy online site for my PhD. My name is Paulinus Nwosu and I am currently doing my research on ‘digital literacy and employability in Nigeria’ at Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom. I will be posting well informed articles relating to digital literacy and its development especially as it relates to Nigeria.

Digital Literacy in Nigeria: an overview

The term ‘digital literacy’ may not be common in Nigeria as there are very few studies that use the term. We are rather used to the term ‘computer skills’ or ‘ICT skills’ which is just an element of digital literacy. Literacy in the context of my research goes beyond mere computer/ICT skills to include knowledge and attitude. It involves the ability to reflect, criticize and create digital content using variety of digital media and platforms  responsibly and safely for personal objectives and or for the society development.

Time is really auspicious to critically look at how digital literacy is developed in Nigerian students as things are increasingly going digital; traditional services like ticket booking, hotel reservation, examinations, reading materials, academic programs, university admissions, training, job applications, shopping, banking, tax systems, business records, designs, security and government services are becoming increasingly digitalized; forming part of everyday life and necessitating demand for new skill sets in the labour market and in all professions. Digital initiatives like cashless society are taking hold; internet and personal internet accessible devices (desktops, laptops, smart phones, tablets, e-readers, games console, smart watch, etc.) are increasingly available.  All these are turning societies into what is referred to as information age, computer age, knowledge society or digital society where some degree of digital literacy is required for decent living, employment and social life. The fast-paced technologies that characterize our contemporary society are continually bringing the world closer, eliminating boundaries and increasing competition between businesses and individuals from different countries.

It is really important that Nigeria catches on now by working coherently, intensively and objectively towards the development of digital literacy in her citizenry, particularly the students. Universities for instance need to work together in the areas of research; exchange of digital content/material through digital library system; online training programs; internet accessibility project like ‘edurom’ in UK and so on – this cooperation is more important than ever in the face of dwindling state funding. Such cooperation permit staff and students to use relevant resources from other universities which otherwise would not be available to them, as it pays more than retrogressive competition.

 Academic institutions need to develop robust digital literacy curriculum and delivery system, digital infrastructure (including personnel), policies and processes that will enable and encourage the development of appropriate level of digital literacy. The case of communication sector demonstrate the global employment competitiveness and imperative for digital literacy development. Expatriate workers were reduced in communication sector from 274 in 2011 to just 13 in 2012, but the number increased to 248 in 2013 apparently due to lack of requisite digital skills to fill the gap (NBC, 2015).

Institutions therefore need to pursue the broader perspective of digital literacy rather than narrower area of computer/ICT skills to enable their students/graduates participate meaningfully, responsibly and safely in our digital world. This is particularly important for employment and global competition where employers are increasingly considering the value adding characteristics and strengths employees possess instead of depending on just their skills’ level (hrtmsjobs.com, 2015), which underlines the importance of critical and creative elements of digital literacy. For proper understanding of digital literacy concept, I have given a few definitions below:

Digital literacy is “the confident, critical and creative use of ICT to achieve goals related to work, employability, learning, leisure, inclusion and/or participation in society”…… Or “a set of Knowledge, skills and  attitudes that are required when using ICT and digital media to perform tasks; solve problems; communicate; manage information; collaborate; create and share content; and build knowledge effectively, efficiently, appropriately, critically, creatively, autonomously, flexibly, ethically, reflectively for work, leisure, participation, learning, socializing, consuming and empowerment  (Ferrari 2012).” Jisc (2014) defined digital literacy as “the capabilities which fit someone for living, learning and working in a digital society.”

For more about digital literacy and its elements which some scholars use interchangeably with ‘digital competence,’ ‘media literacy,’ ‘information literacy’ and ‘ICT literacy’ please visit

 http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC68116.pdf

https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-students-digital-literacy

My study is looking at how digital literacy is developed in Southern Nigerian University students from curriculum design to the delivery and the link between graduate digital learning and graduate employability in Nigeria. In other words, the relationship between what our students are taught or encouraged to learn and digital capabilities or competences expected of them by their potential employers.

Please if you graduated from any Nigerian university within the last 5 years and you are residing in UK click http://digitalliteracyinnigeria.blogspot.co.uk/p/research-questionnaire.html to access the question. You will see 'participant information' page first, click 'next' at the bottom of the page after reading it, this will take you to page 2 which is consent page. Also read consent page and click 'go to questionnaire' at the bottom of the page to access the questionnaire.