The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa has called for strengthened industry collaboration to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation, emphasising innovation and policy as key enablers of sustainable growth.
Represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo at The Omniverse Summit, 2025 which took place in Lagos, Inuwa said Nigeria has the potential to become a global digital powerhouse through coordinated efforts among stakeholders.
With an internet penetration rate exceeding 55 per cent and the digital economy projected to contribute over 20 per cent to GDP by 2030, according to Inuwa, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth, pointing homegrown fintech giants like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint as examples of how innovation is attracting billions in investment and revolutionising financial services.
Inuwa added that beyond fintech, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are shaping critical sectors like governance, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
To sustain this momentum, He said NITDA is committed to fostering innovation through investments in research and development, talent cultivation, and startup support systems to bridge the digital divide and enhance digital literacy.
Acknowledging that no digital economy can thrive without adaptive policies, the DG emphasised the importance of regulatory frameworks such as the Nigeria Startup Act, which provides a structured approach to nurturing innovation.
He highlighted NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which anchors its policies on dynamism, intelligence, and awareness, ensuring a regulatory environment that protects consumers while enabling businesses to scale.
The DG also stressed the need for stronger data protection laws, enhanced cybersecurity frameworks, and AI governance strategies that promote responsible technology deployment.
Collaboration, he stated, is the glue that binds innovation and policy into tangible progress. Public-private partnerships have already played a vital role in Nigeria’s digital transformation, with recent collaborations between the Federal Government and global tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta underscoring the importance of synergy.
He stated that the recent agreement between the federal government and Google is set to transform Nigeria into a global tech hub, noting that the partnership focuses on infrastructure development, citizen upskilling, AI innovation, cloud adoption, and investment framework enhancement. This collaborative approach ensures that digital policies and initiatives align with global best practices while addressing local needs.
Inuwa also mentioned NITDA’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Digital Literacy for All programme in partnership with the NYSC, which aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027. According to him, strengthening industry-academic linkages will further bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applications, ensuring a digitally skilled workforce.
He added that Nigeria’s active participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents significant opportunities to position the country as a regional hub for digital trade and services – through harmonising digital trade policies and leveraging strategic partnerships, Nigeria can unlock new markets and attract more foreign investments.
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