Satellite Week: Nigeria’s digital future hinges on partnerships, says NITDA DG
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has underscored the importance of collaboration between government institutions and emerging startups as a key driver of Nigeria’s digital transformation and national development.
Speaking at the Nigerian Satellite Week 2026 in Abuja, themed “Harnessing Space Technology for an Extraordinary Nigeria,” he urged stakeholders to embrace partnerships as a pathway to innovation and impact. Represented by NITDA’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, he delivered a presentation titled “Enhancing Collaboration Between Government Agencies and Emerging Startups.”
Inuwa outlined four guiding principles for transformation: enabling rather than controlling the ecosystem; prioritising networks over institutions; developing talent while supporting innovation through practical solutions; and focusing on platforms instead of isolated projects. He emphasised that these principles are critical to building a thriving digital economy.
Highlighting the evolving role of space technology, Inuwa observed that startups are increasingly driving innovation across telecommunications, navigation, security, and cloud services. He noted that the sector, once dominated by global superpowers, is now emerging as a major economic driver, with Nigeria’s “Sunrise Packet” projected to contribute over $1.5 billion to the economy by 2030.
Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, described Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure as central to the country’s digital future.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the acquisition of NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, while also highlighting investments including a ₦12 billion Digital Economy Research Cluster Fund, expansion of fibre optic networks, and deployment of telecom towers to underserved communities.
Welcoming participants, the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Jane Nkechi Egerton-Ideyen, said Nigeria’s space programme is entering a new phase of deliberate growth.
She noted that revenue rose from under $650 million in 2023 to over $2 billion in 2025, driven by reforms and increased demand, adding that over 500 young Nigerians were trained in satellite technology in the past year, with more than 50 startups supported through the agency’s accelerator programme.
