On Friday, February 28, 2025, The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, called for strengthened industry collaboration to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation, emphasizing innovation and policy as strong matches of sustainable growth.
Represented by Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo at The Omniverse Summit 2025 which took place in Lagos, Inuwa said Nigeria has the potential to become a global digital powerhouse through coordinated efforts among stakeholders.
According to Inuwa, with an internet penetration rate exceeding 55% and the digital economy projected to contribute over 20% to GDP by 2030, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth, pointing homegrown fintech giants like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint as examples of how innovation is attracting billions in investment and revolutionising financial services.
Beyond fintech, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are shaping critical sectors like governance, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
To sustain this momentum, NITDA is committed to fostering innovation through investments in research and development, talent cultivation, and startup support systems to bridge the digital divide and enhance digital literacy.
No digital economy can thrive without adaptive policies, He emphasised the importance of regulatory frameworks such as the Nigeria Startup Act, which provides a structured approach to nurturing innovation.
Inuwa, highlighted NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which anchors its policies on dynamism, intelligence, and awareness, ensuring a regulatory environment that protects consumers while enabling businesses to scale.
NITDA DG, stressed the need for stronger data protection laws, enhanced cybersecurity frameworks, and AI governance strategies that promote responsible technology deployment.
Collaboration is the glue that binds innovation and policy into tangible progress. Public-private partnerships have already played a vital role in Nigeria’s digital transformation, with recent collaborations between the Federal Government and global tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta underscoring the importance of synergy, he said.
Inuwa stated the recent agreement between the federal government and Google, is set to transform Nigeria into a global tech hub, noting that the partnership focuses on infrastructure development, citizen upskilling, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and investment framework enhancement. This collaborative approach ensures that digital policies and initiatives align with global best practices while addressing local needs.
NITDA’s ongoing initiatives such as the Digital Literacy for All programme in partnership with the NYSC, which aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027. According to him, strengthening industry-academic linkages will further bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applications, ensuring a digitally skilled workforce.
He added that, Nigeria’s active participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents significant opportunities to position the country as a regional hub for digital trade and services – through harmonising digital trade policies and leveraging strategic partnerships, Nigeria can unlock new markets and attract more foreign investments.
The DG reiterated that Nigeria’s digital transformation requires bold decisions, innovative thinking, and strategic alliances, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that digital transformation is not just a vision but a reality driving sustainable economic development.
“The theme of this summit states, we are truly ‘Unified by Vision and Empowered by Collaboration’. Let us seize this moment to build a Nigeria where technology serves as an equalizer, empowering every citizen, every business, and every sector,” he concluded.
