- Inuwa calls for stronger state-federal collaboration to achieve nationwide digital literacy and economic inclusion.
To unlock inclusive growth and ensure every Nigerian benefits from the digital economy, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for stronger collaboration between federal, state, and local governments.
NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, made the call during a high-level visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja, stressing that digital transformation is a national vision that requires collective action.
“Our mandate isn’t just federal—it’s truly national, which means it must embrace state and local governments,” Inuwa said. “We must strengthen collaborations that embed our initiatives directly within state and local structures.”
Nigeria’s Digital Growth Story
Highlighting Nigeria’s remarkable digital leap, Inuwa noted that when NITDA began, fewer than 500,000 Nigerians used computers and ICT contributed less than 0.5% to GDP.
Today, he said, ICT contributes over 17% to Nigeria’s GDP, with more than 130 million internet users, marking one of the most significant transformations in Africa’s digital landscape.
According to him, this growth was fueled by strategic partnerships involving government institutions, the private sector, and international development partners.
Driving Digital Literacy Nationwide
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to building a “digitally empowered nation” through its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP), built around eight key pillars.
At the heart of this plan is Fostering Digital Literacy and Cultivating Talent. NITDA aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030 through programmes like the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) initiative and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF).
The agency is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Education, NUC, and NBTE to integrate digital skills into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula nationwide.
Inuwa also revealed ongoing collaborations with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, expected to reach over 10 million Nigerians annually, especially in the informal sector.
“No one succeeds in isolation. We must work as an ecosystem to create prosperity and inclusivity through technology,” he added.
He further invited state governments to participate in NITDA’s upcoming International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and Digital Nigeria Conference, which aim to promote cross-state collaboration in digital governance.
Governors’ Forum Commends NITDA’s Leadership
In his remarks, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the NGF, hailed NITDA’s leadership and described the visit as a major milestone in strengthening intergovernmental collaboration for Nigeria’s digital economy.
“We deeply appreciate your leadership and the critical role NITDA continues to play in advancing Nigeria’s digital economy. In an era where technology defines competitiveness and opportunity, your work stands at the heart of our nation’s transformation,” Shittu stated.
He stressed that digital transformation is more than administrative efficiency — it’s a national imperative that can expand opportunities and uplift millions of Nigerians.
The NGF, he noted, is advancing this agenda through the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report, which guide state-level reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payments, and trust systems.
“With strong partnership and shared accountability, we will unlock a future where every Nigerian—urban or rural—has access to the tools and opportunities of the digital age,” he concluded.
