Nigeria is strengthening its digital future through deeper collaboration with the United States, as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to building a secure and trusted digital ecosystem anchored on data privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Speaking at the Nigeria Data Privacy Capacity Building Workshop organised by the United States Department of State in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission and key ecosystem stakeholders, Inuwa described the engagement as a reflection of a relationship that has steadily evolved beyond dialogue into practical cooperation.
“This collaboration is not new,” he said. “It is part of a deliberate and growing effort by both countries to jointly address emerging digital challenges and opportunities.”
He recalled that in April 2024, Nigeria and the United States, under the U.S.–Nigeria Binational Commission, agreed to work together on data privacy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, capacity building, and broader digital development priorities.
That commitment, he noted, translated into tangible outcomes within the same year, including the successful hosting of an Artificial Intelligence Conference co-hosted by the Nigerian Government and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria, as well as engagements with U.S. cybersecurity firms to explore partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s technical ecosystem.
Inuwa explained that NITDA’s focus on data privacy, AI, cybersecurity, and policy is driven by a single, underlying goal: trust. “Trust is the currency of digital transformation,” he said, noting that when trust is absent, innovation slows and costs rise, while trusted systems accelerate adoption and growth.
According to him, these focus areas cannot be treated separately, as “artificial intelligence relies on data, data requires privacy, and privacy can only be guaranteed through strong security.” He added that building a prosperous digital economy therefore requires intentional efforts to safeguard privacy, strengthen security frameworks, and deploy AI responsibly.
Describing the workshop as a foundation for deeper engagement, Inuwa revealed that plans are underway to expand Nigeria’s National Cybersecurity Conference into an international platform this year, following the participation of the U.S. Mission in the 2024 edition.
He said the expanded conference would provide opportunities for U.S. cybersecurity companies to showcase their technologies, partner with Nigerian firms developing local solutions, and jointly strengthen Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape.
He also reassured stakeholders of NITDA’s commitment to creating policies and an enabling environment that support innovation, while positioning Nigeria and Africa as the next frontier of the global digital economy, driven by a young, digitally native population and a rapidly expanding market.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s reliance on U.S. technologies across public and private sectors, Inuwa stressed that the country also has the talent to build homegrown solutions.
“We have local capacity,” he said, adding that NITDA remains focused on working with international partners to build skills, strengthen institutions, and promote Nigeria’s digital self-determination.
He concluded by thanking the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for their continued support, expressing optimism that the partnership will continue to grow, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, for the mutual benefit of both countries.
