BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called for strengthened industry collaboration to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation, emphasising innovation and policy as key enablers of sustainable growth.
Inuwa, who stated this at the Omniverse Summit 2025 which took place in Lagos, said Nigeria has the potential to become a global digital powerhouse through coordinated efforts among stakeholders.
Represented by Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr Aristotle Onumo, the Director General noted that with an internet penetration rate exceeding 55% and the digital economy projected to contribute over 20% to GDP by 2030, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth.
He pointed out that 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.
While 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.
He stated that collaboration is the glue that binds innovation and policy into tangible progress, adding that public-private partnerships have already played a vital role in Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Inuwa noted 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, he said, 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.
The DG reiterated that Nigeria’s digital transformation requires bold decisions, innovative thinking, and strategic alliances, urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that digital transformation is not just a vision but a reality driving sustainable economic development.
“As the theme of this summit states, we are truly ‘Unified by Vision and Empowered by Collaboration’.
Let us seize this moment to build a Nigeria where technology serves as an equaliser, empowering every citizen, every business, and every sector,” he stated.