By Joy Onuorah
On Thursday, 18th September 2025, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) will open its doors to Nigerians for a public review of two groundbreaking frameworks: the Draft Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Live Events and the Draft Technical Standard for the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX).
At first glance, these may sound like technical documents meant for policymakers and IT experts. But look closer, and you’ll see why every Nigerian student, trader, entrepreneur, healthcare worker, teacher, or civil servant has a stake in this conversation.
Why This Matters to Ordinary Nigerians
Imagine a Nigeria where:
* Government services, from getting your passport to paying taxes are fast, transparent, and corruption-proof.
* Hospitals securely share patient records so treatment is seamless across facilities.
* Farmers access real-time data to improve yields and connect directly to markets.
* Students benefit from unified digital records that work across schools and scholarship bodies.
* Small businesses access affordable credit without drowning in paperwork or fraud.
That’s what the DPI and NGDX are designed to unlock.
The Draft DPI Live Environment lays the foundation for seamless national digital infrastructure; strengthening e-Government, building trust, and ensuring that citizens and businesses can interact with government services without bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, the Draft Technical Standard for NGDX introduces a unified and secure framework for data sharing between government institutions and the private sector.
In plain terms: less duplication, fewer inefficiencies, and more innovation across finance, healthcare, education, agriculture, and other sectors.
Safeguards Nigerians Can Trust
Of course, digital systems raise concerns about privacy, data protection, and security. The good news: the NGDX is being built with strong safeguards around authentication, data privacy, and global best practices.
According to NITDA, the framework is not just about technology, it’s about building trust, ensuring Nigerians’ data is safe, and positioning the country as a continental leader in digital public infrastructure.
An Invitation, Not Just an Announcement
Speaking ahead of the review, NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, stressed the importance of inclusive participation:
“Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure must be co-created with all stakeholders to ensure it embodies resilience, fosters innovation, and builds trust.”
He added that the success of the initiatives depends on stakeholders’ active involvement in providing insights that will guide adoption and sustainability.
In other words: this isn’t a closed-door project. It’s a national conversation.
Global Collaboration, Local Impact
These drafts are not happening in isolation. They are tied to the Federal Government’s broader Renewed Hope agenda under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and supported by international partners through the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.
Nigeria is also drawing on technical collaborations with countries like Finland, Estonia, Germany, and France, nations that have pioneered digital public infrastructure.
By blending global expertise with local realities, Nigeria aims to craft solutions that serve its unique needs.
How You Can Participate
The public review session takes place:
📍 Venue: Digital Economy Complex, NCC Building, Mbora, Abuja
📅 Date: Thursday, 18th September 2025
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM
Stakeholders from government, industry, academia, civil society, and everyday citizens are invited. Ahead of the event, drafts can be reviewed online via this link.
For further inquiries:
📧 eGDED@nitda.gov.ng
📞 08032015719, 08023275039
At its core, this initiative isn’t about codes and servers, it’s about you.
Your access to better public services.
Your right to secure data.
Your business thriving in a digital economy.
Progress may be technical on the surface, but its impact is deeply human. That’s why your voice matters in shaping these frameworks.
