By Naeemah Junaid
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has inaugurated a Multistakeholder Coordination Group as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and sustain Nigeria’s growing reputation in digital governance.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, described Nigeria’s recent global recognition in digital governance as both an honor and a call to greater responsibility, while speaking at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, recently.
He cautioned against complacency, noting that the country must intensify efforts to maintain and improve its standing. “Recognition comes with responsibility. If the global community recognises what we are doing, it means we must do more to sustain that progress,” he said.
Inuwa attributed Nigeria’s strides in digital transformation to deliberate investments in policy frameworks and regulations, including the National E-Governance and Digital Economy Bill, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, as well as instruments such as the Interoperability Framework and the Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture.
These frameworks have strengthened the country’s digital foundation, greater coordination and inclusive participation are required to sustain progress—hence the establishment of the Multistakeholder Coordination Group, he explained.
NITDA DG, stressed the need for inclusivity, urging stakeholders to ensure that underserved communities, persons with disabilities, children and the elderly are not left behind in Nigeria’s digital transformation drive. He identified improved connectivity and digital literacy as critical enablers.
Highlighting the agency’s regulatory achievements, NITDA reviewed IT projects valued at over ₦1.5 trillion across federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the past year, saving more than ₦319 billion, Inuwa disclosed.
Persistent challenges, reveals that over 56 per cent of IT projects have historically failed to meet expectations due to poor planning and inadequate technical oversight. To address this, NITDA is introducing stricter guidelines to ensure proper system design, professional certification and quality assurance, he stated.
Inuwa further emphasized the need to institutionalize reforms, warning that progress must not be dependent on individuals. He aligned the initiative with the digital transformation agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, calling for accountability in governance. “We need stakeholders to hold us accountable for what we promise to deliver,” he added.
The National Coordinator of the Open Government Partnership in Nigeria, Gloria Ahmed, commended NITDA for the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening collaboration across the digital ecosystem. The moves aligns with the principles of transparency, accountability and citizen participation, adding that technology remains central to building trust in governance, she noted.
Ahmed also highlighted Nigeria’s achievements under the Open Government Partnership, particularly its recognition at the 2025 Global Summit in Spain, and called for sustained momentum.
She further pointed to the Fourth National Action Plan, which includes commitments on digital governance and the development of a national Digital Public Infrastructure, including the Nigeria Data Exchange Platform, aimed at improving coordination and service delivery.
According to her, the success of these initiatives will depend on active collaboration among government, civil society and the private sector.
The inauguration of the Multistakeholder Coordination Group is expected to enhance cooperation among key stakeholders and reinforce efforts to build a more transparent, inclusive and digitally driven governance system in Nigeria.
