NITDA’s Inuwa rallies State Governors to accelerate tech-driven, inclusive growth in Nigeria

*Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency, emphasises ‘digital transformation is a national vision’ that requires a deeper digital alliance with stakeholders, including the subnational governments in Nigeria, so the West African country can unlock inclusive growth for all Nigerians

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has said Nigeria must forge a deeper digital alliance with stakeholders in the digital transformation ecosystem for the country to unlock inclusive growth for all Nigerians.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of NITDA, stated this during a high-level courtesy visit of the top Management officials of the agency to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat, in Abuja, FCT.

Inuwa urged both state and local governments to recommit to a stronger partnership with the Federal Government.

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NITDA noted the Director-General of the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency also stressed that digital transformation is a national vision that requires active participation from every corner of the country to succeed.

He stated: “Our mandate isn’t just federal—it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” Inuwa asserted. To make this partnership real, he urged governments to “strengthen collaborations that embed our initiatives directly within state and local structures.” The DG then showcased Nigeria’s immense digital leap: when NITDA began, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians used computers and ICT contributed less than 0.5% to the GDP. Today, that progress is undeniable, with over 130 million internet users and ICT now contributing more than 17% to the GDP.

According to him, this transformation was driven by strategic partnerships among government institutions, private organisations, and international development partners.

Inuwa highlights NITDA’s vision on digital transformation

Underscoring the strategic importance of digital transformation in advancing the Nigerian economy, Dr. Inuwa reiterated NITDA’s vision of creating “a digitally empowered nation that uses technology to drive national prosperity,” anchored on the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) built around eight key pillars.

The Chief Executive of NITDA further explained that the first pillar Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent — remains a top priority.

According to him, then agency aims to achieve 70 percent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 percent by 2030, through initiatives, such as the 3 million Tech Talent (3MTT) Programme and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).

He said under the framework, the agency is working with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to integrate digital skills training into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula nationwide.

We must collaborate to create prosperity, inclusivity through technology, says DG

Speaking further during the visit to the NGF Secretariat, Inuwa announced the ongoing collaborations with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train civil servants and corps members through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, which is expected to reach over 10 million Nigerians annually, particularly in the informal sector.

He asserted: “No one succeeds in isolation. We must work as an ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology.”

The NITDA Chief also invited State Governments to actively participate in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) 2025 and Digital Nigeria Conference, designed to foster cross-state learning and collaboration in digital governance.

Inuwa concluded by reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to leveraging partnerships to integrate technology into governance and enhance public service delivery at all levels.

In his remarks, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), described NITDA’s visit as a significant step toward strengthening intergovernmental collaboration in driving Nigeria’s digital economy agenda across all 36 states.

Dr. Shittu, commending NITDA’s leadership for advancing digital transformation, noted that technology has become a key enabler of competitiveness, opportunity, and inclusive development.

The Director-General of NGF also stated: “We deeply appreciate your leadership and the critical role NITDA continues to play in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy.

“In an era where technology defines competitiveness and opportunity, your work stands at the heart of our nation’s transformation.”

Dr. Shittu stressed that digital transformation goes beyond administrative efficiency, describing it as a “national imperative” capable of improving service delivery, expanding economic opportunities, and uplifting millions of Nigerians.

He further highlighted the Forum’s ongoing efforts, including the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report, which guide subnational reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payments, and trust systems.

Shittu said: “These reports are already shaping conversations and actions at the subnational level.

Collaboration on Technical Standards for DPI and the Nigeria Data Exchange Framework, he noted, will further enhance interoperability and secure data sharing across government systems.

The NGF Director-General added: “With strong partnership and shared accountability, we will unlock a future where every Nigerian, urban or rural, has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age.”

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