DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, giving a thought-provoking address at the event in Abuja recently.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called for a united front between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and government in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the nation’s current trajectory as one that demands shared responsibility, not blame.
At the 1st Civil Society Summit on Civil Democracy and National Development, held at the Rotunda Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, Inuwa emphasized that reforming Nigeria’s economy to deliver sustained and inclusive growth is not a task for the government alone.
“There are things the government can do that civil society cannot, and there are things the government can do that you cannot do, but together, we can achieve greater things.” Urging stakeholders to move from critique to co-creation in national policy efforts, he said.
Inuwa stressed the importance of national consensus in achieving meaningful progress. Outlining the eight priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda, including economic reform, national security, agricultural transformation, natural resource development, infrastructure expansion, social sector enhancement, industrial diversification, and improved governance.
He further advocated for the strategic use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to improve productivity in key sectors like agriculture, health, and education. “If we agree on this vision, then we must move forward together, irrespective of who is in government. What matters is continuity of vision, and the collective will to implement it,”
“Technology gives us tools to scale ideas and boost productivity tenfold. Nigeria does not lack ideas; what we need are the tools and will to implement them on time,” Citing ongoing collaborations, he revealed that NITDA is currently supporting the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in deploying a digital citizen engagement platform powered by AI, designed to co-create impactful policies with the youth, Inuwa said.
He concluded by underscoring the importance of trust-building through engagement, stating that the trust deficit between government and citizens often stems from a lack of interaction. The summit provided a critical forum for stakeholders to align on national priorities, deepen civic participation, and reinforce civil society’s role in steering Nigeria towards sustainable development and democratic consolidation.
“Mr. President has a vision for Nigeria; we should all work together to support him in achieving that vision. If we agree, we have a consensus that will help us to build trust. And when we build trust, we can win the battle today and make Nigeria great,” he concluded.
