The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have unveiled plans to deepen collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation across Nigeria’s energy sector.

The proposed partnership was the focus of a recent engagement between both organisations, where discussions centred on leveraging emerging technologies to reposition the country’s oil and gas industry for improved efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Speaking during the meeting, NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, called for a strategic shift in the sector from traditional reliance on the “exploitation” of hydrocarbon resources to a more forward-looking approach driven by technological “exploration.” He highlighted key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and robotics as critical tools for modernising operations in the energy industry.

Inuwa noted that information technology has become a central enabler of growth across sectors, stressing that innovation will shape the future of energy production, operational efficiency, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.

He outlined NITDA’s strategic focus areas, including digital literacy development, local talent nurturing, strengthening research ecosystems, and promoting indigenous technology solutions. According to him, reducing dependence on foreign technologies while fostering homegrown innovation is vital for achieving digital sovereignty and long-term economic growth.

The NITDA boss also disclosed plans to support NNPC in building a robust innovation pipeline that connects the company with Nigeria’s expanding startup ecosystem. He explained that startups would be engaged through incubation programmes and innovation challenges to develop practical, industry-specific solutions for the oil and gas sector.

The engagement further highlighted NITDA’s ongoing initiatives to empower young Nigerians, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), many of whom are already contributing to problem-solving through technology-driven innovations.

Earlier, Director of NNPC’s RTI Unit, Olatomiwa Olaniyi, said the collaboration is designed to co-create solutions and establish a strong partnership framework to drive innovation across the energy value chain.

Olaniyi emphasised the importance of synergy among government institutions, industry stakeholders, and the broader technology ecosystem in achieving sustainable innovation. He noted that the RTI Unit is focused on enhancing operational efficiency, increasing revenue generation, and supporting sustainable growth across NNPC’s core business areas, including upstream operations, gas, power, and emerging energy segments.

He added that the unit operates a structured innovation framework that prioritises research development, prototype creation, strategic partnerships, talent attraction, and the promotion of a culture of continuous innovation.

Both organisations underscored the importance of enabling policies and regulatory frameworks in driving technological advancement. Inuwa pointed to the need for effective implementation of the Nigerian Startup Act to support emerging technology ventures and scale innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions.

The partnership is expected to strengthen the role of technology and innovation as key drivers of efficiency, diversification, and sustainable growth within Nigeria’s energy sector.

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TECH DIGEST – Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, speaking during a meeting with NNPC officials who visited the recently commissioned National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
The National Information Technology Development Agency received the Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Friday, at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
The visit was to seek the support of NITDA on how to effectively drive the petroleum sector with digital technology in research and innovation.

The team, led by the Chief Innovation Officer of NNPC, Mrs Ugonna Betty Amaechi, maintained that they were at the centre to seek NITDA’s assistance in reviewing some of its strategy, goals, priorities and progress, as well as provide guidance and enablement to succeed.

Mrs Amaechi said, “innovation is about creating new ways of doing things towards achieving performance efficiency and cost cutting. It is something Nigeria has embraced, and for innovation to thrive there must be triggers which is why the RTI was formed,” she said.

Amaechi revealed that RTI’s business thematic areas includes; cybernetics and automation, downstream innovation, energy innovation, refining of petrochemical innovation, upstream innovation, and market research and service innovation.

She stated that the research aspects of RTI uses a creative, systemic and methodological principles of knowledge to collect, organise and analyse ideas for business growth, sustain development and solve problems within the NNPC.

She said they want learn from NITDA’s wealth of experience, adding that the focus is in the area of technology to drive business efficiency, quality service and performance excellence, using advancements in applied sciences, engineering and design in line with technology trends.

In the area of innovation, the team leader said, RTI came up with the idea of looking at it more centrally from a human-centred approach, adding that RTI intends to embrace human centred innovation.

In his remark, the Director General of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, said; “innovation happen when you explore,” adding that, “you need to be an explorer and exploiter at the same time before you become innovative as an organisation”.

He opined that what makes an ecosystem is to have all stakeholders on board. Adding that, “to have a successful innovation ecosystem, it is important to have five key stakeholders which are; Academia, corporate organisation, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists in order to provide funding for the ideas.”

While assuring the RTI of the Agency’s supports to drive various initiatives, the NITDA boss maintained that, “getting an idea from conceptualisation to impact is highly required to be an innovator that opens to new ideas.”

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