The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and The National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) have announced a ground-breaking collaboration to integrate Nigeria’s emerging digital and innovation ecosystems with the country’s cultural and creative industries (CCI) with the country’s ecosystem.
The collaboration was signed by the Head of Media, NCAC, Dr Dennis Olofu, and Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations, NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, the Director-General of NCAC, Mr Obi Asika, and his team met with the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, alongside his senior leadership team, at NITDA headquarters in Abuja to establish a collaborative framework.
This strategic partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both organisations, to promote growth, innovation, digital transformation throughout Nigeria’s creative and cultural sectors.
Key Focus Under the Partnership:
ICE Capacity-Building Program:
NCAC’s flagship programme, ICE (Innovate, Create, Empower), designed to upskill participants in the cultural and creative industries. With NITDA’s support, ICE will expand to 1,000 locations nationwide, targeting the training of 2 million Nigerians by 2027. NITDA will provide training facilities and digital labs to enhance the programmed target.
Digital Platforms:
NCAC, collaboration with private sector partners, developing digital platforms for cultural inventory, fan engagement, influencer marketing, subscription video-on-demand (SVOD), e-commerce, and capacity building. NITDA will provide support through local distribution networks and cloud services.
Infrastructure Development:
NCAC, NITDA requests assistance in equipping its headquarters and zonal offices with computers, tablets, consumables, digital labs, and podcast studios to achieve full digital transformation.
Collaboration Events:
NCAC will mobilise its creative and cultural communities to participate in NITDA’s initiatives, including the highly anticipated GITEX Nigeria 2025.
Launch of BuyNigeria.ng
A joint initiative to pilot BuyNigeria.ng, an e-commerce platform that will bring Nigerian markets online, was also announced. The project’s initial phase will target major markets in Kano, Lagos, Aba, and Abuja, enhancing visibility and accessibility for artisans and traders.
Integration of Digital Literacy in Talent Platforms
NCAC’s Nigeria’s Got Talent program will integrate NITDA’s digital literacy training and gamified learning systems, creating new opportunities for creatives in a tech-driven landscape.
Joint Committee:
A joint committee comprising directors from both NCAC and NITDA has been established to drive the partnership forward and ensure seamless implementation of shared initiatives.
The historic collaboration represents a significant step towards Nigeria’s cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology, unlocking limitless opportunities in both sectors and cementing Nigeria’s position as a global hub and digital economies.
