NITDA DG calls for unified drive towards digital transformation
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy and accelerate national development.
Inuwa made the call at the NITDA-States IT Stakeholders’ Engagement and Ecosystem Development Programme, themed “Creating Opportunities, Breaking Boundaries: Towards Digitalisation and Entrepreneurial Evolution,” held in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Inuwa, represented by Mr. Ajayi Babajide, said Nigeria’s economy—the largest in Africa by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—is at a critical juncture requiring urgent diversification, with the digital economy offering a pathway to sustainable growth, job creation and inclusive development.
He noted that digitalisation has become a major driver of economic transformation globally, providing access to knowledge and enabling developing nations to compete effectively, while describing the technology sector as one of the fastest-growing segments of the global economy.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s mandate to drive digital innovation, highlighting initiatives such as the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), aimed at strengthening the ecosystem and equipping citizens with relevant digital skills.
He disclosed that over 100 IT centres have been established nationwide to support digital learning, stressing that sustaining and expanding such initiatives would require stronger partnerships among government, the private sector, academia and civil society, as well as investment in innovation hubs and incubators.
The NITDA boss added that the agency supports startups through platforms such as the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), noting that while Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem has attracted investments and produced globally recognised startups, more effort is needed to sustain growth through robust policies and institutional support.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Pharm. Eric Monday, said the state is leveraging technology across sectors, especially healthcare, while expanding partnerships and finalising a skills acquisition centre to empower youths. He emphasised collaboration, knowledge sharing and investment as key to unlocking opportunities and driving sustainable development.
