The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has renewed its call for deeper collaboration among government, industry, academia and technology professionals to accelerate digital innovation and position Nigeria for inclusive economic growth.
The agency made the call at the 20th Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) International Conference 2026, held in Jos, Plateau State, where it stressed the need to translate emerging technologies into practical solutions capable of transforming governance, creating employment opportunities and enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness.
Representing the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, the agency’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, said Nigeria’s digital future would depend on sustained investments in innovation, digital skills development, research and strategic partnerships capable of delivering measurable socio-economic impact.
According to him, NITDA remains committed to implementing its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan through initiatives that promote digital literacy, research and development, emerging technologies, cyber sovereignty and innovation-driven ecosystems to fast-track the country’s digital economy.
He added that the agency was also expanding opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs and technology startups through platforms designed to foster collaboration, attract investment and strengthen the nation’s digital ecosystem.
“We are transforming Digital Nigeria into the nation’s foremost innovation platform where policymakers, investors, startups, researchers and technology companies can collaborate to accelerate economic growth and digital transformation,” he said.
Inuwa also urged innovators and startup founders to leverage the forthcoming Builders Summit to showcase indigenous solutions capable of addressing Nigeria’s critical development challenges.
Declaring the conference open, Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, described digital technology as indispensable to modern governance and economic development, noting that his administration had deployed digital solutions to improve public service delivery, enhance internally generated revenue and modernise government operations.
He also underscored the critical role of technology in transforming agriculture, boosting productivity and strengthening food security, while urging participants to ensure that deliberations at the conference culminate in practical and implementable recommendations for national development.
Earlier, President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Prof. Muhammad Sirajo, FNCS, said the conference was convened to strengthen collaboration among policymakers, researchers, regulators and industry leaders on strategies for deploying emerging technologies to drive sustainable national development.
Speaking on the conference theme, *”Harnessing Digital Innovation and Emerging Technologies for Inclusive Growth and Economic Renaissance (RISE 2026),”* Sirajo identified artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, cybersecurity and robotics as some of the transformative technologies reshaping economies across the world.
He noted that Nigeria’s youthful population and rapidly expanding digital ecosystem present a unique opportunity to build a globally competitive economy, provided investments in innovation, digital infrastructure and skills development remain a national priority.
The conference brought together government officials, regulators, technology professionals, academics, development partners and private-sector leaders to deliberate on policies, innovations and strategic partnerships aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation and fostering inclusive economic renaissance.
