NITDA, NBC in strategic collaboration for media regulation, digital transformation

*The National Information Technology Development Agency and National Broadcasting Commission collaborate to explore strategic partnerships in digital transformation and regulatory frameworks across media and technology sectors of the country’s economy

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has restated the agency’s commitment to deepening inter-agency collaboration with other regulators in the Nigerian economy.

Inuwa stated this when he received Mr. Charles Ebuebu, Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), who was on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja, FCT.

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ConsumerConnect reports NITDA said the strategic collaboration between the two regulatory agencies was aimed at exploring strategic partnerships in digital transformation and regulatory frameworks across Nigeria’s media and technology sectors.

Speaking during the meeting, Inuwa described digital transformation and regulation as inseparable in the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem in the West African country.

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The Director-General of NITDA also explained that digital transformation is not a one-off project but a continuous journey that requires constant improvement, periodic target-setting, and organisational adaptability to emerging realities.

He further stated the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency deliberately embarked on a transformational journey to reposition itself from a traditional civil service structure to a high-velocity, smart public sector organisation.

The NITDA transformation story, by Inuwa

When NITDA commenced its transformation drive, a significant percentage of its workforce came from the mainstream civil service, bringing with them entrenched bureaucratic mindsets and rigid operational practices, recalled Inuwa.

The Chief Executive of the agency said those peculiarities necessitated a conscious Management decision to change the narrative.

He said: “More than 70 or 80 percent of our staff came from the mainstream public service, and we know the mindset of public servants.

“So, we started changing that narrative by focusing on people, resetting mindsets, building capacity, and fostering a culture that supports innovation and accountability.”

Inuwa explained that NITDA’s approach to digital transformation was anchored on three core pillars: people, processes, and technology.

He stressed that no matter how advanced technology may be, it could not deliver value without the right people and efficient processes in place.

The NITDA Chief as well disclosed the agency undertook a comprehensive cultural reorientation programme, supported by cultural audits and initiatives aimed at creating psychological safety within the organisation.

Inuwa asserted: “This was critical to enabling staff at all levels to freely contribute ideas, challenge existing processes constructively, and engage in horizontal and vertical collaboration without fear of reprisal.”

According to him, culture remains the foundation upon which any successful strategy must stand.

“No matter how good a strategy is, without the right culture, execution will fail,” averred Inuwa.

Giving further insight into the transformation journey at the time, he noted that NITDA adopted an integrated framework encompassing people, process, culture, content, and technology.

Through this framework, the agency identified and addressed deeply rooted bureaucratic tendencies, such as command-and-control structures, risk aversion, and excessive dependence on directives from senior leadership.

He stated: “These reforms paved the way for trust-based delegation, inter-departmental collaboration, and process optimisation.”

Relating further highlights of the transformation process, Inuwa disclosed NITDA documented over 396 internal processes, and subsequently, streamlined them to eliminate inefficiencies and repetitive executive approvals.

He cited examples where routine operational tasks that previously required multiple approvals at the Director-General’s level were redesigned to empower departments as gatekeepers, allowing leadership to focus on strategic priorities.

This process optimisation, he said, also created the foundation for automation and the integration of digital tools.

Insight into capacity building efforts at NITDA

Highlighting the capacity building process at the agency, the Director-General noted that all NITDA staff undertook mandatory Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, reinforcing the agency’s position that AI is a tool for enhancing productivity rather than replacing human capital.

Inuwa averred that staff across departments at NITDA are now leveraging AI to improve workflows, generate ideas, and transition from manual administrative roles to AI-enabled system administration.

He affirmed that technology deployment at NITDA is deliberately driven by business value rather than trend adoption.

Inuwa emphasised that technology must support clearly defined processes and organisational objectives.

The Director-General also announced that the agency has developed a comprehensive digital transformation playbook that captures lessons learned from its journey, he assured the agency is willing to share with NBC, and other government institutions in Nigeria.

NITDA CEO proposes key areas of partnership with NBC

Meanwhile, in order to advance the new-fangled collaboration with the National Broadcasting Commission, Inuwa proposed concrete areas of partnership.

These, he stated, include sharing the agency’s digital transformation playbook, delivering tailored training and capacity-building programmes.

Others are enrolling NBC staff in digital literacy initiatives developed with global technology partners such as Cisco, and provision of technical support for modernising regulatory frameworks to align with the evolving digital and media ecosystem.

Ebuebu hints at institutionalising cooperation between two agencies NITDA

Speaking during the meeting with the NITDA team earlier, Mr. Ebuebu, Director-General of NBC, advocated a deeper collaboration between the Commission and NITDA.

He described their partnership as long overdue in regard to rapid media and technology convergence in the digital space.

The Director-General of NBC also observed that although he has had several insightful interactions with Inuwa prior to the latest engagement, it was important to institutionalise cooperation between both agencies to address emerging developments in media, technology, data governance, and Nigeria’s digital future.

Urging closer ties between the two agencies, Ebuebu further emphasised that a strategic partnership between NBC and NITDA is critical to effectively regulate the evolving media ecosystem, harness technology for content creation and distribution, promote the growth of local media, facilitate knowledge transfer, and protect Nigeria’s cultural and national interests.

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