NITDA DG Seeks Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration to Boost Nigeria’s Digital Economy

NITDA DG Seeks Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration to Boost Nigeria’s Digital Economy

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for stronger collaboration among key 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 Digitalization and Entrepreneurial Evolution,” held in Abuja.

Represented by Mr. Ajayi Babajide, Director of Zonal Office Coordination, the NITDA boss said Nigeria—Africa’s largest economy by Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—is at a critical juncture that requires urgent diversification. He noted that the digital economy offers a strategic pathway to sustainable growth, job creation, and inclusive development.

According to him, digitalisation has become a major driver of economic transformation in today’s interconnected world, providing unprecedented access to knowledge and enabling developing nations to compete globally. He stressed that the technology sector remains one of the fastest-growing and most impactful segments of the global economy, urging Nigeria to position itself to fully harness its potential.

Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s mandate to drive and coordinate digital innovation nationwide, adding that the agency is committed to creating an enabling environment that empowers all sectors, including underserved communities. He highlighted the implementation of the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), designed to strengthen Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and deliver life-transforming opportunities.

He also referenced the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), which aims to equip citizens with essential digital skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. The DG disclosed that NITDA has established over 100 IT centres across the country and provided infrastructure to support digital learning and skills acquisition.

However, he emphasised that sustaining and expanding these initiatives would require deeper collaboration among government at all levels, the private sector, academia, and civil society. He noted that innovation thrives in ecosystems supported by effective policies, access to funding, and enabling regulations.

The NITDA chief further stressed the importance of investing in innovation hubs and incubators to nurture startups from ideation to market readiness, enabling them to compete globally. He added that the agency continues to support entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), which provide incubation, acceleration, and training programmes.

While acknowledging that Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem has attracted significant investment and produced globally recognised startups, including unicorns, Inuwa said more efforts are needed to sustain the momentum.

He reiterated that digitalisation holds immense potential for economic diversification, job creation, and inclusive growth, but warned that these opportunities must be deliberately harnessed through robust policies, legal frameworks, and strong institutional support.

The engagement, he said, provided a platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, co-create solutions, and align strategies for the effective rollout of digital initiatives across states in line with SRAP 2.0. He expressed confidence that collective efforts would deliver lasting impact and urged participants to remain committed to building a future where innovation thrives and opportunities are widely accessible.

In his keynote address, Eric Monday, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology in Kogi State, said the state’s digital strategy focuses on applying technology to critical sectors such as healthcare, works, and environmental management.

He noted that outcomes from previous stakeholder engagements had helped shape actionable plans, emphasising the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable progress.

“Our goal is to learn from others while also sharing our experiences. The knowledge gained from engagements like this will help us strengthen our systems, create opportunities for our youth, and support skills development,” he said.

Monday also revealed that a skills acquisition centre supported by development partners is nearing completion and will soon begin training young people in relevant digital skills. He added that the state is expanding partnerships beyond Nigeria, including collaborations with Chinese organisations, to strengthen its innovation ecosystem and unlock new economic opportunities.

Other dignitaries at the event included Mr. Damina John, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Nasarawa State, and Mrs. Aisha Rufai, Executive Director, Commercial and Industry Development at the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).