By Yushau A. Shuaib

When a sponsored attack song backfires, it reveals everything about the sponsors — and nothing damaging about the target.

A brief disclosure is necessary before I proceed. In December 2018, Jamilu Gwamna — then Managing Director of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) — personally approved the removal and reinstallation of electric poles to support the expansion of the PRNigeria Centre in Kano. That gesture of institutional goodwill remains unforgettable. His spokesperson, Ibrahim Shawai, who still serves in that role today, has also been a long standing professional colleague. I state this up front because transparency about relationships is the foundation of credible commentary, and what I am about to say directly touches on the political contest in which Gwamna is now a participant.

I must also clarify my relationship with Isa Ali Pantami. I have closely monitored the evolution of Nigeria’s digital economy ecosystem since his days as Director General of NITDA and throughout his tenure as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. That monitoring led to active promotion of legitimate achievements and a sustained effort to counter malicious narratives directed at him. It also resulted in a book documenting his trials and triumphs. My engagement with Pantami has always been based strictly on public service record — nothing more, nothing less.

For more than two years, Pantami has openly signalled his intention to contest the governorship of Gombe State. There were early indications that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya might not remain neutral in the APC primary. I raised this concern with the Governor’s spokesperson, Ismaila Misilli, during the launch of Pantami’s books in Abuja in January 2024. Misilli consistently reassured me that the Governor would be fair to all aspirants.

When Shawai later informed me that Jamilu Gwamna would also be contesting after securing the APC ticket, I did what fairness required: I told him directly that any press release or material his candidate issued would be published on our platforms at no cost — the same courtesy extended to Pantami, who had paid his dues in national service. Equity demanded nothing less.

This week, precisely last Thursday’s evening after Shawai discussed a release and a new photograph of his candidate with me — which we published immediately — a video began circulating less than twenty four hours later.

In it, APC Hausa praise singer Kahutu Rarara did not merely criticise Pantami; he accused him of drug addiction, alleged corruption, and issued thinly veiled threats of referral to anti corruption agencies. He then, in the same breath, lavished praise on Jamilu Gwamna, the APC governorship candidate. The sponsorship was not implied. It was announced.

The response was swift, fierce, and deeply instructive. Clerics who had previously criticised Pantami came out in his defence. Scholars who had held reservations issued statements of solidarity. Politicians in opposing camps expressed sympathy. Social media influencers with no particular allegiance condemned Rarara in terms sharper than anything he had directed at his target. Without spending a kobo or uttering a word in his own defence, Pantami gained more followers, more sympathisers, and more vocal supporters in forty eight hours than any conventional campaign event could have delivered.

The attack produced the exact opposite of its intended effect. This is not a coincidence. It is a textbook case of demarketing by incompetence — a lesson written in real time for anyone willing to read it.

I have made this point repeatedly in professional settings, and it bears restating with the specificity this episode demands. There is a fundamental difference between publicity, where noise and trend matter, and public relations, where substance and credibility matter. Many politicians and campaign managers behave as though the two are interchangeable — assuming that anyone with a large audience or a talent for generating noise is automatically a useful campaign instrument. This is a costly error.

Publicity measures reach and volume. Public relations measures credibility and consequence.

A praise singer with hundreds of thousands of followers can generate trend after trend, but if his credibility is already compromised, every trend he generates carries the stench of that compromise. The audience does not simply receive the message; it filters it through what it already knows about the messenger. When a campaign instrument is perceived as mercenary, every message it carries is contaminated.

Kahutu Rarara is not an artist in the tradition of musicians who use their platforms to advocate justice or accountability. He is, by his own pattern, a hired tongue — available to praise whoever pays and to attack whoever his current patron designates. He has performed this function against former Kano Governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, among others. In each case, those he vilified were, in other seasons, recipients of his flattery when patronage flowed in their direction. Nigerians are not unaware of this. His credibility as an independent voice is precisely zero. That is why there can be no basis for comparing a global musical icon like Davido with Rarara after their public clash in June 2026 over Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis.

Any campaign strategist who deployed him for this assignment either failed to conduct the most basic perception audit or conducted one and ignored it. Either way, the professional failure belongs to the architects of the strategy — not to Rarara, who simply did what Rarara does.

While publicity chases attention, public relations earns trust. And the most damaging form of demarketing is when an opposition relies on a weak, hate-driven campaigner who resorts to ignorance, arrogance, and indecency. Such tactics almost always backfire, instantly boosting public sympathy and solidarity for the reputable competitor — without them spending a single penny. That is exactly what we are witnessing in the case of Rarara’s attack song against Pantami.

Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of “Pantami: Trials & Triumphs of a Digital Economy Maestro.” Email: yashuaib@yashuaib.com

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has renewed its call for stronger collaboration among government institutions, industry players, academia and technology professionals to accelerate digital innovation and position Nigeria for inclusive economic growth.

The Agency made the call at the 20th Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) International Conference 2026 held in Jos, Plateau State, where stakeholders gathered to explore how emerging technologies can be harnessed to drive governance reforms, job creation and national competitiveness.

Representing the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, the Agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, said Nigeria’s digital future depends on sustained investments in innovation, digital skills development, research and strategic partnerships capable of delivering measurable socio-economic impact.

According to him, NITDA remains committed to implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan through initiatives that promote digital literacy, research and development, emerging technologies, cyber sovereignty and innovation-driven ecosystems aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital economy.

He added that the Agency is expanding opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and technology startups by creating platforms that encourage collaboration, investment and knowledge sharing across the country’s digital ecosystem.

“We are transforming Digital Nigeria into the nation’s foremost innovation platform where policymakers, investors, startups, researchers and technology companies can collaborate to accelerate economic growth and digital transformation,” he said.

Inuwa also encouraged innovators and startup founders to leverage the forthcoming Builders Summit as a platform to showcase indigenous technology solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s critical development challenges.

Declaring the conference open, Caleb Mutfwang described digital technology as an indispensable driver of modern governance and economic development.

He said the Plateau State Government has embraced digital solutions to improve public service delivery, boost internally generated revenue and modernise government operations.

The governor further noted that technology would play a critical role in transforming agriculture, increasing productivity and strengthening food security, urging participants to ensure that discussions at the conference translate into practical solutions that would benefit the nation.

Earlier, President of the Nigeria Computer Society, Muhammad Sirajo, said the annual conference was designed to foster collaboration among policymakers, researchers, regulators and industry leaders on strategies for deploying emerging technologies to drive national development.

Speaking on the conference theme, “Harnessing Digital Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Economic Renaissance (RISE 2026),” Sirajo identified artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity and robotics as transformative technologies shaping the future of global economies.

He stressed that Nigeria’s youthful population and expanding digital ecosystem present a unique opportunity to build a globally competitive economy, provided investments in innovation, digital infrastructure and skills development remain national priorities.

The conference brought together government officials, regulators, technology professionals, academics, development partners and private-sector leaders to deliberate on policies, innovations and collaborative strategies expected to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation and drive inclusive economic renaissance.

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The Executive Director of FutureMap Foundation, Dr. Shuaib Sani Shuaib, has said the organisation is bridging the gap between academic training and employment by equipping young Africans with practical digital skills, industry exposure and career opportunities through its flagship Future Tech Fellowship (FTF).

Speaking at a Digital Innovation Workshop for Graduates in Jigawa State, Dr. Shuaib said the Foundation was committed to producing not just graduates but technology professionals capable of driving Africa’s digital transformation.

According to him, while universities continue to produce talented graduates, many struggle to secure meaningful employment because they lack practical experience, mentorship and exposure to industry.

“Through the Future Tech Fellowship, we are building careers, not just graduates. Our objective is to identify promising talent early, nurture it and create clear pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and leadership within Africa’s innovation ecosystem,” he said.

Dr. Shuaib cited the success stories of Ibrahim and Nasir, two former students of Sule Lamido University, who developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based solution to help fish farmers monitor pond conditions and optimise feeding schedules during an innovation competition in Jigawa State.

He explained that after recognising their potential, the Foundation invited both innovators to Abuja, where they became part of an ecosystem that enabled them to collaborate with engineers, researchers, designers and entrepreneurs on nationally relevant technology projects.

According to him, the exposure transformed their university innovation into successful professional careers.

“Today, one of them works in the Information Technology division of one of Nigeria’s leading commercial banks, while the other is pursuing a fully funded Master’s degree in the United Kingdom. Both have also returned to mentor new participants in the Future Tech Fellowship,” he said.

The Executive Director noted that the Foundation’s training model combines technical education, applied innovation, leadership development and industry engagement, enabling participants to develop practical solutions to challenges in healthcare, agriculture, education, governance and climate resilience.

He disclosed that fellows have contributed to initiatives such as Project Tech Atlas, a digital attendance management platform and locally developed digital health solutions designed to improve institutional efficiency and healthcare delivery.

Dr. Shuaib said the programme places strong emphasis on helping participants build professional portfolios, strengthen teamwork and communication skills, and understand the complete process of designing, testing and deploying technology solutions.

Highlighting the impact of the Fellowship, he revealed that the programme has attracted more than 3,000 applications, selecting only about three per cent of applicants through a highly competitive process.

He said participants have come from all 36 states of Nigeria, as well as Ghana and Cameroon, creating a diverse community of emerging technology professionals.

According to him, the programme has also produced impressive career outcomes, with about 40 per cent of fellows securing internships or employment through strategic industry partnerships, mentorship and collaborative innovation projects.

Dr. Shuaib added that the Foundation remains committed to expanding opportunities for women, underserved communities and persons with disabilities as part of efforts to build a more inclusive digital workforce across Africa.

He explained that innovation within the Fellowship is driven by solving practical development challenges rather than pursuing technology for its own sake.

Among the solutions developed by participants, he said, is a smart hospital management system aimed at reducing patient waiting time and improving healthcare administration, alongside other digital innovations addressing challenges in agriculture, governance and public service delivery.

The FutureMap Foundation Executive Director stressed that Africa’s digital future depends on its ability to nurture young innovators with the technical competence, confidence and leadership skills required to compete globally.

“The journey of Ibrahim and Nasir demonstrates what is possible when talent is recognised early, supported through mentorship and connected to opportunities. Today’s fellows become tomorrow’s mentors, innovators and industry leaders,” he said.

He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem by providing young people with the skills, networks and practical experience needed to build successful careers while contributing to sustainable economic development across the continent.

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By Abbas Badmus,

New regulatory regime seeks to end costly IT failures, strengthen cybersecurity and position Nigerian software for global competitiveness

For years, Nigerians have grown accustomed to an all-too-familiar experience. Government websites suddenly become inaccessible at critical moments. Online portals crash under heavy traffic. Digital services designed to simplify public administration become sources of frustration, while businesses and government agencies grapple with software vulnerabilities that expose sensitive data to cyber threats.

Behind many of these challenges lies a common denominator—poor software quality.

As Nigeria’s economy becomes increasingly digital, the consequences of unreliable software have grown more severe. A single malfunction in a banking platform can disrupt millions of transactions. A compromised government database can threaten national security. An unstable digital identity system can undermine confidence in public institutions. These realities have reinforced an important lesson: digital transformation is only as strong as the software that powers it.

It is against this backdrop that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has introduced what many technology experts consider one of the most consequential regulatory reforms in Nigeria’s digital history—the National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework.

Signed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, under the authority of the NITDA Act 2007, the framework establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive national standard governing how software is conceived, developed, tested, certified and deployed across Federal Government institutions, regulated industries and the country’s wider digital ecosystem.

The initiative represents a shift in national thinking. Rather than responding to software failures after they occur, Nigeria is adopting a preventive model in which quality, security and reliability become mandatory requirements from the earliest stages of software development.

Why Nigeria Needs a Software Quality Revolution

Nigeria’s digital economy has expanded remarkably over the past decade. Public services are increasingly delivered online, financial technology has transformed banking and payments, startups continue to innovate across multiple sectors, while businesses depend more than ever on digital infrastructure.

Yet this rapid digital expansion has not always been matched by corresponding improvements in software quality assurance.

Numerous digital projects have suffered from inadequate testing, poor documentation, security loopholes and interoperability challenges. In some cases, software systems have required expensive redesigns shortly after deployment. Others have struggled to cope with increased user demand or evolving cybersecurity threats.

The financial implications are enormous. Beyond the direct cost of failed IT projects, unreliable software undermines investor confidence, reduces productivity and weakens citizens’ trust in digital governance.

NITDA’s new framework seeks to change this narrative by institutionalising quality assurance as a compulsory component of software development rather than an optional afterthought.

A Comprehensive Framework Built on Three Pillars

At the heart of the initiative is an integrated regulatory structure combining three complementary instruments that together address every stage of the software lifecycle.

The National Software Development Guideline introduces internationally recognised software engineering standards. Developers are expected to follow structured development methodologies, implement secure coding practices based on OWASP standards, maintain comprehensive system documentation and ensure citizen-facing applications comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA). This means digital services must not only function effectively but also remain accessible to persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable users.

Complementing this is the National Software Testing Guideline, which establishes mandatory benchmarks for evaluating software before deployment. Applications must demonstrate functionality, cybersecurity resilience, performance under peak operational loads and seamless interoperability with other systems before they can be approved for public use.

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of the framework is the Software Testing Organisations Licensing (STOL) Guideline. Through this initiative, NITDA will license and regulate independent Licensed Software Testing Organisations (LSTOs), creating an impartial certification system that separates software development from software validation. This independent assessment model aligns with international best practices and enhances transparency in government technology procurement.

No Certification, No Deployment

One of the framework’s most significant provisions is its mandatory certification requirement.

Government software projects will no longer proceed directly from development to deployment. Every qualifying project must first undergo independent third-party testing and receive official certification before going live.

Compliance with the framework also becomes a prerequisite for obtaining IT Project Clearance, effectively placing software quality assurance at the centre of Nigeria’s digital governance architecture.

For technology vendors seeking government contracts, software quality will no longer be measured solely by functionality or cost. Independent verification will become an essential requirement.

Recognising That Not All Software Carries Equal Risk

One notable innovation within the framework is its risk-based classification system.

Instead of applying identical compliance requirements to every software application, NITDA categorises software into three classes according to operational impact.

Class A covers critical national infrastructure and other high-risk systems, including core banking switches, national identity management platforms and power grid control systems. These applications will undergo the highest level of security assessment, penetration testing and specialised audits conducted by top-tier accredited testing organisations.

Class B applies to enterprise-level platforms supporting significant institutional operations, while Class C encompasses lower-risk internal applications that require proportionate quality assurance measures.

This differentiated regulatory approach ensures that compliance remains both practical and risk-sensitive while protecting systems whose failure could have far-reaching national consequences.

Strengthening Nigeria’s Cybersecurity Defences

The framework arrives at a time when cyber threats continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency.

Security experts increasingly agree that many cyber incidents originate not from external attacks alone but from vulnerabilities introduced during software development.

By enforcing secure coding practices, rigorous penetration testing and independent quality assessments, the framework seeks to eliminate weaknesses before software reaches end users.

This preventive strategy complements Nigeria’s broader cybersecurity objectives by reducing the likelihood of successful attacks against government platforms and critical digital infrastructure.

Creating a New Technology Industry

Beyond regulation, the framework also represents an economic development strategy.

The licensing of independent software testing organisations is expected to stimulate an entirely new segment of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem.

Demand will grow for software quality assurance specialists, penetration testers, cybersecurity analysts, compliance experts and certification professionals.

This emerging market has the potential to generate thousands of highly skilled jobs while encouraging Nigerian professionals to obtain globally recognised certifications in software quality engineering.

Rather than relying extensively on foreign expertise, Nigeria could develop a vibrant indigenous software assurance industry capable of supporting both domestic and international markets.

Raising the Global Profile of Nigerian Software

As African technology companies increasingly compete for international contracts, software quality has become an important competitive advantage.

Global investors, multinational corporations and development partners routinely evaluate quality assurance processes before engaging software providers.

NITDA’s framework therefore extends beyond domestic regulation.

By establishing nationally recognised quality standards, Nigeria is positioning locally developed software to compete more effectively in global markets, attract foreign investment and strengthen confidence in products developed by Nigerian technology companies.

The initiative also aligns with the country’s ambition to become a regional digital innovation hub.

Building Public Confidence in Digital Government

For ordinary Nigerians, the most immediate benefits may come through improved public service delivery.

Citizens expect digital government services to be available when needed, process requests efficiently and safeguard personal information.

Reliable software means fewer system outages, reduced processing delays, stronger data protection and more dependable online services.

Ultimately, software quality becomes an important pillar of public trust.

Speaking on the significance of the framework, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi captured this broader vision.

“Quality is the foundation of digital trust. With this Framework, every software solution serving Nigerians—whether built for government or the private sector—will meet clear national standards for security, reliability and interoperability. This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage.”

Although the Software Quality Assurance Framework will officially take full effect in the second quarter of 2027, NITDA is allowing stakeholders time to prepare.

The Agency plans nationwide stakeholder engagements, extensive capacity-building programmes and the accreditation of Licensed Software Testing Organisations.

An Expression of Interest will also be issued for prospective testing organisations seeking licences, giving technology firms the opportunity to strengthen their technical capabilities before the framework becomes fully operational.

This phased implementation is expected to encourage compliance while minimising disruption to ongoing technology projects.

The National Software Quality Assurance Framework is more than another government regulation. It is a statement about the future Nigeria hopes to build—a future where digital systems are secure, reliable and globally competitive.

If effectively implemented, the framework could reduce costly software failures, improve cybersecurity, strengthen public confidence in government technology, stimulate indigenous innovation and create an entirely new software quality assurance industry.

In an era where nations increasingly compete through digital capability rather than natural resources alone, software quality is no longer a technical concern reserved for programmers. It has become a strategic national asset.

For Nigeria, the launch of the Software Quality Assurance Framework may well mark the beginning of a new chapter—one in which digital trust, innovation and excellence become defining characteristics of the nation’s technology ecosystem.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has unveiled the National Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework, a landmark regulatory initiative aimed at eliminating costly software failures, strengthening cybersecurity and enhancing public confidence in Nigeria’s digital governance ecosystem.

The framework, approved by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, under the provisions of the NITDA Act 2007, establishes nationwide standards for the design, testing and deployment of software across Federal Government institutions, regulated industries and the broader digital economy.

According to NITDA, the new framework harmonises three key regulatory instruments into a unified quality assurance regime.

These include the National Software Development Guideline, which prescribes structured software development life cycles, secure coding practices based on the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), standardised system documentation and compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA for citizen-facing digital platforms.

The framework also incorporates the National Software Testing Guideline, which introduces mandatory pre-deployment testing standards covering functionality, cybersecurity, performance under peak operational loads and interoperability with existing systems.

In addition, the Software Testing Organisations Licensing (STOL) Guideline establishes a regulatory regime for accrediting independent Licensed Software Testing Organisations (LSTOs) responsible for evaluating and certifying software before deployment.

Under the new policy, all government software projects will be required to undergo independent third-party testing and obtain official certification before they can go live, making compliance a mandatory condition for securing IT Project Clearance.

To ensure regulatory oversight reflects varying operational risks, the framework introduces a three-tier software classification model.

High-risk Class A systems—including core banking platforms, national identity management infrastructure and power grid control systems—will be subjected to the most stringent cybersecurity requirements, comprehensive penetration testing and specialised audits by top-tier accredited testing organisations.

Moderate-risk enterprise platforms will fall under Class B, while lower-risk internal applications will be classified as Class C, each subject to compliance standards proportionate to their level of operational risk.

NITDA said the framework is expected to deliver significant benefits to the country’s digital ecosystem by improving the reliability and security of public digital services, reducing costly system failures and safeguarding government investments from cyber threats.

The agency also said the initiative would stimulate the growth of a regulated software testing industry, creating new opportunities for indigenous technology companies, encouraging international certification and generating high-skilled employment for Nigerian software engineers.

It added that the framework would strengthen international confidence in Nigerian-developed software by ensuring locally built digital solutions meet globally recognised standards for quality, security and interoperability.

Speaking on the initiative, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi described quality assurance as the cornerstone of digital trust.

> “Quality is the foundation of digital trust. With this Framework, every software solution serving Nigerians—whether built for government or the private sector—will meet clear national standards for security, reliability and interoperability. This is how we modernise government technology and position Nigerian software to compete on the global stage,” he said.

The agency disclosed that the National Software Quality Assurance Framework will become fully operational in the second quarter of 2027.

Ahead of its implementation, NITDA said it would embark on nationwide stakeholder engagement and capacity-building programmes, while commencing the accreditation process for software testing organisations.

The agency also announced plans to issue an Expression of Interest (EOI) for prospective software testing firms seeking licensing, providing technology companies with an opportunity to strengthen their technical capacity and align with the new national quality assurance standards.

The statement was signed by Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding digital inclusion through strategic partnerships aimed at empowering underserved communities with digital skills and access to technology, in line with Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, made the commitment during a courtesy visit by the Executive Director of Cal-Maji Foundation, Mrs. Faith Ayuba, to the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

Represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, Mr. Oluwunmi Oladejo, Inuwa said collaboration with community-based organisations remains critical to achieving NITDA’s vision of ensuring that every Nigerian benefits from the opportunities of the digital economy.

He described the Foundation’s visit and positive feedback as a testament to the lasting impact of the Agency’s interventions across the country.

“It is always gratifying to receive feedback from communities that have benefited from our interventions. Many of these projects were implemented years ago, and it is rewarding to know they are still creating opportunities,” he said.

The NITDA boss explained that the Agency continues to monitor the performance of its intervention centres nationwide while leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen digital learning and virtual capacity-building initiatives.

According to him, NITDA’s National Digital Literacy Framework remains the cornerstone of efforts to equip children, students, artisans, farmers, professionals and other groups with the digital competencies required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.

Responding to requests for additional support, Inuwa disclosed that the Agency is considering training community-based instructors to sustain digital literacy programmes at the grassroots. He encouraged the Foundation to submit a formal request, backed by evidence of activities at its digital centre, to facilitate further intervention.

He, however, acknowledged that sustaining internet connectivity across intervention centres nationwide remains a major funding challenge that requires innovative solutions and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.

Earlier, Executive Director of Cal-Maji Foundation, Mrs. Faith Ayuba, commended NITDA for its openness to partnerships and commitment to supporting impactful initiatives.

She described the Agency as one of the few government institutions that prioritises genuine impact over personal connections, noting that the Foundation focuses on improving access to education, strengthening food systems, enhancing food security and providing social protection for women and young people in hard-to-reach communities.

Ayuba revealed that the NITDA Knowledge Access Centre established at the Foundation’s community school in a border community in Kogi State has significantly transformed learning by providing students and residents with access to computers, internet connectivity and digital education.

“The ICT centre became an equaliser. Young people who ordinarily would never have had access to computers or the internet suddenly had the opportunity to acquire digital knowledge. We came back simply to say thank you because this partnership has changed lives,” she said.

She disclosed that more than 1,000 children have benefited from the Foundation’s educational programmes and presented a former student who advanced from the community school to a Nigerian university after leveraging the digital resources available at the centre.

According to her, the student’s success demonstrates the enduring impact of NITDA’s intervention in expanding educational opportunities for underserved communities.

Ayuba also appealed for deeper collaboration through the training of community instructors, upgrading of computer systems and expanded access to NITDA’s digital capacity-building programmes, stressing that rural communities must not be left behind as Nigeria embraces emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

The meeting ended with both organizations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration, expanding digital opportunities and empowering underserved communities in support of Nigeria’s inclusive digital economy agenda.

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Something unusual—and deeply encouraging—has happened in Nigeria’s development landscape.

FutureMap Foundation, a mission-driven organisation known for promoting technology, innovation, youth empowerment and digital inclusion, chose to invest in a dialysis centre not in Lagos, Abuja, Kano or another major urban capital, but in Hadejia, Jigawa State.

That decision is significant.

Development projects, particularly those involving advanced medical services, are too often concentrated in large cities where visibility is greater, infrastructure is stronger and access to influential stakeholders is easier. By locating a technology-enabled renal care facility in Hadejia, the Foundation has demonstrated that innovation should not be defined merely by sophistication. Its real value lies in its ability to solve urgent human problems, especially in communities that have historically received little attention.

The facility, named the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic, was commissioned by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who visited Jigawa State for the occasion. She also inspected other innovation centres facilitated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the leadership of its Director General, Malam Kashifu Inuwa.

Beyond the symbolism of the commissioning, however, lies a far more important story: the quiet but devastating burden of kidney disease across the Hadejia–Jama’are River Basin and neighbouring communities.

Kidney disease rarely dominates national headlines. It does not command the same urgency as epidemics, outbreaks or other highly visible public health emergencies. Yet every year, it quietly devastates hundreds of families.

The crisis continues to grow, not because treatment is entirely unavailable, but because access remains beyond the reach of too many patients.

Available survey findings indicate that more than 200 new cases of kidney disease are diagnosed annually across the region. Even more troubling is the fact that at least 85 per cent of these cases are identified only after the disease has progressed significantly.

Nearly three out of every four patients requiring dialysis reportedly arrive with Stage IV or Stage V kidney disease, when treatment becomes more complicated, more expensive and less effective. Almost half of those diagnosed eventually require dialysis simply to remain alive.

These figures should concern anyone interested in the future of healthcare in Northern Nigeria. They reveal not only the burden of kidney disease, but also the consequences of unequal access to specialist medical services.

For many patients, surviving chronic kidney disease is not simply a question of receiving treatment. It is a question of whether they can physically reach it.

Specialist renal services remain concentrated in a limited number of urban centres, forcing patients to travel hundreds of kilometres several times a week for dialysis. The financial and emotional consequences can be overwhelming.

Families exhaust their savings on transport, accommodation, medication and treatment. Breadwinners lose productive working days. Caregivers abandon their livelihoods to accompany sick relatives. Children miss school, while households already struggling with poverty are pushed further into financial distress.

For many families, the journey to dialysis becomes almost as punishing as the disease itself.

This is precisely why the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic deserves national attention—not simply as another healthcare facility, but as a practical response to one of the region’s most pressing health challenges.

Designed and managed by FutureMap Foundation, the clinic represents an important shift in thinking. Instead of expecting patients to chase specialist care across distant cities, it brings life-saving treatment closer to the communities where it is most urgently needed.

It affirms a simple but important principle: access to quality healthcare should not depend on a patient’s postcode or ability to travel hundreds of kilometres in search of survival.

The impact is already becoming evident.

One patient receiving dialysis at the clinic travels from Maigatari in Jigawa State, covering approximately 200 kilometres on every round trip. Another comes from Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State, travelling about 169 kilometres each time treatment is required.

Across the wider region, some patients routinely cover between 200 and 300 kilometres merely to access dialysis.

Reducing those journeys changes far more than the distance recorded on a map. It lowers transport costs, preserves household income, improves treatment adherence and allows patients to spend more time recovering with their families rather than enduring exhausting hours on the road.

Healthcare becomes more humane when it becomes more accessible.

Although the dialysis unit is still relatively new, patients have already accessed services from several states across Northern Nigeria. Behind every person treated is a family spared repeated hardship, another household protected from avoidable financial pressure and another reminder that decentralising specialist healthcare is both possible and necessary.

Yet the clinic now faces a challenge that has become all too familiar in Nigeria’s health sector: demand has quickly outgrown capacity.

The dialysis unit currently operates with only one machine. Each treatment session lasts approximately six hours and 55 minutes, meaning that the number of patients who can be treated daily remains severely limited.

The problem is no longer the absence of medical personnel or patients. The doctors are available. The need is evident. The constraint is infrastructure.

This is where a relatively targeted investment could produce extraordinary returns—not in financial profit, but in lives prolonged, families preserved and communities strengthened.

The addition of three or more dialysis machines would fundamentally transform the clinic’s capacity. Multiple machines operating simultaneously could more than triple the number of treatment sessions, reduce waiting periods and enable many more patients from Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and neighbouring states to receive life-saving care closer to home.

The benefits would extend well beyond the dialysis ward.

Greater capacity would reduce referrals to already overstretched tertiary hospitals, lower household healthcare expenditure, minimise productivity losses caused by repeated long-distance travel and improve the chances of patients receiving timely treatment before complications become irreversible.

Expanding dialysis capacity would therefore strengthen both individual health outcomes and the wider regional healthcare system.

The clinic also reflects the broader philosophy of FutureMap Foundation: that innovation must respond to society’s most urgent challenges wherever they exist.

Although the organisation is widely associated with talent development, startup support, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion and technology ecosystems, it has applied the same problem-solving approach to healthcare. The clinic combines specialist renal care with technology-enabled services, community outreach, preventive health programmes and strategic partnerships.

Its ambition extends beyond operating a dialysis unit.

The longer-term vision is to establish a regional centre that integrates dialysis, early kidney disease screening, specialist consultations, digital health solutions, community education, preventive care and workforce development within one coordinated system.

This is precisely the type of integrated healthcare model that many underserved communities urgently require.

Achieving that vision, however, cannot remain the responsibility of one foundation.

Improving access to dialysis requires genuine collaboration among federal and state governments, philanthropists, corporate organisations, development partners, charitable foundations, healthcare institutions and private citizens willing to invest in life-saving interventions.

There are many practical ways to support the project. These include donating dialysis machines, providing consumables, establishing patient-support programmes, funding biomedical equipment maintenance and supporting awareness campaigns and early screening initiatives.

These are not ordinary donations. They are investments in health equity.

Every additional dialysis machine creates new treatment capacity. That capacity enables another patient to begin treatment on time. Another family is spared a 300-kilometre journey. Another household avoids catastrophic medical expenses. Another life receives a stronger chance of survival.

Healthcare is often discussed in the language of statistics, budgets and infrastructure. Yet behind every number is a human story.

There is a father hoping to return to work, a mother determined to watch her children grow, a young person refusing to surrender to illness and a family praying that specialist care will not remain too distant or too expensive.

Expanding the dialysis capacity of the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Clinic is therefore about far more than acquiring additional equipment.

It is about expanding access, restoring dignity and giving more patients the opportunity to live.

Few investments offer a return more meaningful than that.

What FutureMap Foundation has begun in Hadejia should therefore be seen as more than a local intervention. It is a model of what can happen when innovation moves beyond elite spaces and urban centres to confront the realities of underserved communities.

The opportunity before us is not merely to build a larger dialysis centre. It is to establish a sustainable, technology-enabled and equitable model of renal care that can be replicated across Northern Nigeria and beyond.

That would be innovation in its most humane and transformative form.

Shuaib S. Agaka is a technology journalist and digital policy analyst based in Kano.

The post Innovation Beyond Urban Centres — Oluremi Tinubu’s Dialysis Initiative in Hadejia, By Shuaib S. Agaka appeared first on Tech Digest News.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to advance women’s digital inclusion and strengthen Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

The collaboration was formalised during a courtesy visit by a NAWOJ delegation, led by its National President, Comrade Aishatu Ibrahim, to the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa. The delegation introduced the agency to the forthcoming Women in Security (WINSEC) Summit and Awards 2026, an initiative aimed at promoting collaboration on security, innovation and women’s empowerment.

Represented by the Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships Department, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the NITDA Director General assured the association of the agency’s active participation and support for the summit.

Inuwa described the initiative as a timely platform for promoting peacebuilding, dialogue on security and women’s inclusion, noting that these align with NITDA’s commitment to expanding digital literacy and skills among women through its National Gender Inclusive Strategy.

He stressed that beyond participating in the summit, the agency intends to build a long-term partnership with NAWOJ that would create more opportunities for women across the country to acquire digital skills.

“Inclusivity is the key to everything we do at NITDA. We clearly defined that 40 per cent of our programmes must recognise the issue of gender. We ensure that women are adequately represented and positioned to benefit greatly from the programmes that we organise in the agency,” Inuwa said.

He added that the partnership would not only enhance the digital capacity of women journalists but also provide an avenue for NITDA to engage various women’s groups nationwide in its digital literacy and human capital development programmes.

“We graciously accept to participate actively in that conference. Apart from acquiring skills among journalists themselves, partnership with NAWOJ will also serve as a platform through which we can also reach out to various women’s groups across the federation,” he added.

Earlier, NAWOJ National President Comrade Aishatu Ibrahim commended Inuwa for what she described as his visionary leadership, which has positioned NITDA as a key driver of Nigeria’s digital economy through innovative programmes and initiatives.

She explained that the Women in Security (WINSEC) Summit and Awards 2026 is designed to bring together government institutions, security agencies, technology experts, media professionals and other stakeholders to develop collaborative solutions to emerging security challenges.

According to her, the summit will also honour outstanding individuals and organisations that have demonstrated excellence in security, governance and innovation while encouraging dialogue on the role of technology in building a safer and more resilient Nigeria.

“We deeply appreciate your exemplary leadership, passion for innovation, and unwavering commitment to building a digitally empowered Nigeria. We respectfully invite the agency to partner with NAWOJ in making this landmark initiative a success,” Ibrahim said.

She expressed optimism that the collaboration would evolve into a long-term partnership focused on equipping women journalists with cutting-edge digital skills while advancing digital inclusion, innovation and human capital development across the country.

Both organisations expressed confidence that the engagement would lay the foundation for a sustainable partnership with clearly defined objectives aimed at expanding digital literacy, promoting innovation and empowering more Nigerian women through technology.

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By James Ishaku,

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated the need for a digitally skilled public sector workforce, saying the success of government reforms and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will depend largely on the digital capacity of civil servants.

Director General of the NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, stated this during a Digital Skills Masterclass organised by the Agency in collaboration with Meta for selected officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He was represented at the event by NITDA’s Director of Digital Development Services, Olawumi Dejo.

Speaking at the event, Inuwa said Nigeria’s aspiration to build a thriving digital economy requires a public service equipped with the knowledge and competencies to embrace emerging technologies and modern governance practices.

He explained that NITDA developed the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) to provide a standardised roadmap for digital skills development across the country, ensuring that Nigerians acquire competencies aligned with international best practices while addressing local needs.

According to him, the framework is built around six core competency areas: device and software operations, information and data literacy, digital content creation, communication and collaboration, digital safety, and problem-solving.

He noted that the framework would enhance the ability of public servants to effectively utilise digital technologies, safeguard government information, strengthen collaboration across MDAs and improve the delivery of public services.

The NITDA Director General stressed that digital transformation extends beyond the deployment of technology, insisting that meaningful and sustainable reforms can only be achieved by investing in people.

“Technology alone cannot transform institutions. Real transformation happens when people acquire the right digital skills to rethink processes, improve productivity and deliver better outcomes,” he said.

Inuwa described continuous learning as indispensable in an era of rapid technological advancement, particularly with the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence, urging civil servants to continuously upskill and reskill to remain effective.

He also encouraged participants to serve as change agents within their organisations by transferring the knowledge gained during the masterclass to their colleagues through a train-the-trainer approach that would accelerate digital capacity development across the public sector.

The Director General disclosed that NITDA, in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has trained more than 53,000 civil servants in digital skills, describing the initiative as a major step towards building an AI-ready and digitally competent public service.

He assured participants that the Agency would continue to expand digital learning opportunities to equip government workers with the skills needed to support ongoing reforms, enhance service delivery and position Nigeria to maximise the opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

The Digital Skills Masterclass is part of NITDA’s broader implementation of the National Digital Literacy Framework and its commitment to strengthening the human capital required to drive Nigeria’s digital economy.

In her remarks, Meta’s Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Victoria Oloni, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through its partnership with NITDA.

Oloni observed that the increasing adoption of digital tools across government from electronic salary payments to the use of messaging platforms for official communication shows that the public service is steadily transitioning from analogue to digital operations.

She, however, noted that the next phase should focus on achieving institution-wide digital transformation rather than isolated adoption of technology by individuals.

According to her, digital transformation is a continuous journey that requires sustained learning, collaboration and openness to innovation. She explained that the masterclass was designed to provide participants with practical skills for leveraging digital technologies to improve communication, efficiency and service delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Oloni urged participants to maximise the opportunity presented by the training, emphasising that a digitally empowered workforce remains essential to building a more efficient, responsive and citizen-centred public service.

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By Naeemah Junaid,

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to adopt a coordinated and proactive approach to securing Nigeria’s government digital infrastructure against the rising wave of cyber threats.

The call was made at the opening of a two-day Cybersecurity Workshop for MDAs, themed “Securing Government Digital Infrastructure through Capacity Building,” where the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, was represented by the Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Department at NITDA, Dr. Ayodele Bakare.

Speaking at the event, Inuwa said the workshop comes at a crucial period when cyberattacks against government digital platforms have become more frequent, sophisticated and disruptive. He noted that incidents such as website defacement, ransomware attacks, data breaches and the misuse of personal information now pose serious risks to governance, public trust and national development.

He observed that government digital platforms, relied upon daily by millions of Nigerians, have increasingly become attractive targets for cybercriminals.

“We have watched websites of government organisations defaced, hijacked and quietly redirected to gambling sites. We have seen coordinated ransomware attacks force government web portals to shut down and witnessed repeated attacks on government databases leading to data exfiltration and abuse of personal data,” he said.

Highlighting the growing magnitude of the challenge, the DG referenced findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Cybercrime Assessment for Nigeria, which identified Nigeria as one of Africa’s three most targeted countries due to its expanding digital economy and increasing cyberattack surface. He also cited the Lloyd Cybersecurity Outlook, which estimated that cybercrime cost Nigeria more than $3 billion between 2019 and 2025.

According to him, every digital service delivered by government represents a promise of efficiency, transparency and accessibility to citizens and businesses, adding that such promises can only be fulfilled when the underlying systems are adequately secured.

He stressed that today’s cyber threats are orchestrated by highly organised and well-funded actors who exploit vulnerabilities across institutions, making inter-agency collaboration indispensable.

“A weakness in one MDA becomes a doorway into another. Our defences cannot be fragmented. Cybersecurity in government is a shared national obligation, and we are only as strong as our least protected system,” he stated.

Reaffirming NITDA’s commitment to strengthening national cyber resilience, the DG highlighted the Agency’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERRT) as the government’s first point of contact during cyber incidents. He, however, emphasised that the true value of any emergency response capability lies in preventing attacks before they occur.

He explained that effective cybersecurity requires continuous risk assessments, robust governance frameworks, policy implementation, regular awareness campaigns, technical safeguards, incident response planning and sustained capacity development.

Inuwa also underscored the importance of the human factor in cybersecurity, describing personnel as the first and most critical line of defence.

“No firewall or technical control can replace an informed, alert and security-conscious workforce. That is what we refer to as the human firewall,” he remarked.

Encouraging participants to maximise the workshop, he described it as more than a conventional training programme, but a platform for practical learning, intelligence sharing and collaborative problem-solving through discussions and real-life case studies drawn from recent cyber incidents affecting public institutions.

He further disclosed that participants would serve as the first external stakeholder group to review and provide input on NITDA’s draft Regulatory Guidelines for Government Information Security Management ahead of broader stakeholder consultations.

Urging participants to engage openly throughout the sessions, Inuwa said candid discussions on institutional cybersecurity challenges would help other agencies strengthen their own resilience against emerging threats.

“Ask difficult questions and honestly share the security concerns within your environment because your candour may help a sister agency avoid the same issue,” he advised.

Concluding his address, the DG maintained that Nigeria’s ongoing digital transformation should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a source of concern, provided the nation’s digital assets remain adequately protected.

“Nigeria’s digital future is not a threat to be feared. It is an opportunity to be secured. Securing it is precisely the duty we have gathered here to take up together,” he said.

The workshop is expected to deepen cybersecurity knowledge across MDAs, enhance institutional collaboration and strengthen Nigeria’s collective cyber resilience, in line with NITDA’s commitment to fostering a secure, trusted and resilient digital ecosystem for the country.

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