The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has emphasised the need for stronger industry collaboration to accelerate Nigeria’s digital transformation. He highlighted innovation and policy as key drivers of sustainable growth.
Speaking at the Omniverse Summit 2025 in Lagos, where he was represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Inuwa stated that Nigeria has the potential to become a global digital powerhouse through coordinated stakeholder efforts.
*Nigeria’s Growing Digital Economy*
With internet penetration surpassing 55% and the digital economy projected to contribute over 20% to GDP by 2030, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is expanding rapidly.
Inuwa pointed to the success of homegrown fintech leaders like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint, which have attracted billions in investment and transformed financial services.
Beyond fintech, he noted that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are revolutionising governance, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
*NITDA’s Commitment to Innovation and Digital Literacy*
To sustain this progress, Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to fostering innovation through investments in research and development, talent cultivation, and startup support.
These initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide and improve digital literacy across Nigeria.
He also underscored the importance of adaptive policies, stating that no digital economy can thrive without a robust regulatory framework.
He cited the Nigeria Startup Act as a structured approach to supporting innovation, alongside NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which ensures a dynamic, intelligence-driven, and consumer-protective regulatory environment.
*The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Digital Transformation*
The DG emphasised the need for stronger data protection laws, enhanced cybersecurity, and AI governance frameworks to ensure responsible technology deployment.
He stressed that collaboration is key, stating:
“Public-private partnerships are the glue that binds innovation and policy into tangible progress.”
He pointed to recent collaborations between the Federal Government and global tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta, highlighting a landmark agreement with Google aimed at transforming Nigeria into a global tech hub.
This partnership focuses on:
Infrastructure development
Citizen upskilling
AI innovation
Cloud adoption
Investment framework enhancement
This approach ensures that Nigeria’s digital policies align with global best practices while addressing local needs.
*Driving Digital Skills and Trade Opportunities*
Inuwa also mentioned NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All programme, launched in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The initiative aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027.
He further highlighted the importance of strengthening industry-academic partnerships to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applications, ensuring a tech-savvy workforce ready for the digital economy.
Additionally, he noted that Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers major opportunities to position the country as a regional hub for digital trade and services.
By harmonising digital trade policies and leveraging strategic partnerships, Nigeria can unlock new markets and attract foreign investments.
*A Call to Action for Stakeholders*
The DG urged stakeholders to make bold decisions, embrace innovation, and build strategic alliances to turn Nigeria’s digital transformation vision into reality.
“As 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 equaliser, empowering every citizen, every business, and every sector,” he concluded.
With collaboration, innovation, and the right policies, Nigeria is poised to become a leading digital economy in Africa and beyond.
