When dozens of underserved and displaced Nigerians began launching micro-enterprises and earning digital income in the middle of a national lockdown, it was not through charity, it was through a government-supported digital skills programme, designed and led with intention. Behind the programme’s structure and success was Victor Uchenna Moses, a digital transformation leader serving as IT Strategy Lead at CEES Assist Resources, the consultancy tasked with delivering the initiative. His work was not limited to planning. He directly taught, mentored, and adapted systems to meet people where they were offering not just skills, but dignity and digital access. ALAO ABIODUN spoke to Victor about how the programme worked, what digital inclusion really demands, and what other governments and organisations can learn from its success.
This was a digital skills project. But unlike many, it seems it reached people usually left behind. What made it different?
We designed it with the most disconnected people in mind. Most of our learners had never worked with digital tools. Some only had basic mobile phones. Many were from displaced or underserved communities. So we structured everything around accessibility, not assumptions. We focused on mobile-first tools, online safety, digital communication, basic productivity apps, and how to apply them to real-world income generation. But more importantly, we built a system where learning felt possible from day one.
This happened during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. What challenges did you face?
The programme launched at a time when movement was limited, power was unreliable, and connectivity was a challenge. We responded with blended delivery: online where possible, offline where needed. We used WhatsApp, printable guides, and small group sessions with safety protocols in place. People showed up hungry to learn. Our job was to remove the barriers not just technical, but emotional too. We adapted daily to keep the programme going. It was service under pressure, and it was worth it.
What were the outcomes? Did the learners gain lasting benefits?
Absolutely. More than 60 individuals completed the programme, and within weeks, 38 had launched income-generating digital services ranging from WhatsApp storefronts to online freelance gigs to mobile repair marketing. Just as importantly, over 40% of participants used their new skills to apply for microloans and digital business grants. Many of them reported increased confidence in handling transactions, promoting their work online, and managing digital communications. That shift from being digitally excluded to digitally active—is the true outcome.
What was your role specifically in this project?
I served as the IT Strategy Lead from CEES Assist, responsible for designing and overseeing the Community-First Digital Access Framework (CFDAF), ensuring compliance with federal policy, managing facilitator coordination, and mentoring participants directly. I also taught several modules especially around using digital tools for real-life income generation. This was not a contract to deliver. It was a national mandate to empower.
Some believe digital transformation belongs only in urban centres or corporate spaces. You seem to disagree?
Completely. If you can build systems that work for those who have the least, then you can build systems that work for anyone. Digital inclusion is not a side-project, it is infrastructure for justice, development, and resilience. When people are digitally excluded, they are economically excluded. When they are included, they do not just use tools, they build with them.
What can policymakers learn from this?
First, we must stop treating inclusion as charity. It is a strategy. A digitally connected population is more resilient, employable, and self-reliant. Second, we need to fund and scale programmes designed for real-world conditions, not just cities or broadband corridors. Every community deserves access to the tools of growth. And third, it takes partnership. This programme succeeded because of coordinated delivery between federal actors and implementing partners like CEES Assist, who understand both infrastructure and the human layer.
What’s next for you?
I am now working to scale the CFDAF framework in other emerging contexts. We have begun exploratory conversations with delivery partners in Ghana and Northern Kenya, where similar conditions exist low access, high potential, and the need for simple, adaptive infrastructure. This is not about exporting solutions. It is about sharing what works, and working alongside local actors to adapt and deliver it sustainably.
The programme was delivered using the Community-First Digital Access Framework (CFDAF)—a low-bandwidth, modular learning system combining, WhatsApp micro-lessons, Printable toolkits,Offline exercises and Asynchronous mentorship.
It aligned with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy 2020 and met international donor compliance standards on inclusion, data protection, and measurable public outcomes.
I clearly understand that real digital transformation begins with the most overlooked communities. By delivering practical systems with dignity, structure, and vision, he is not only bridging digital divides he is building ladders to lasting opportunity.