Digital Nigeria: Collaborate for Growth
NITDA Calls for Industry Partnerships to Drive Tech Transformation
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) on Monday advocated for the strengthening of industry collaborations to drive Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, who stated this at the Omniverse Summit 2025 in Lagos, further identified innovation and policy as key enablers of sustainable growth.
He noted that collaboration was the glue that bound innovation and policy into tangible progress.
Inuwa was represented by Dr Aristotle Onumo, Director, Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, NITDA, at the Summit, which had the theme: “Unified by Vision and Empowered by Collaboration.”
He stressed that Nigeria had 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, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem is experiencing unprecedented growth,” he said.
According to him, homegrown Fintech giants like Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint are examples of how innovation is attracting billions in investment and revolutionising financial services.
“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, 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.
“No digital economy can thrive without adaptive policies,” he said.
The director-general further emphasised the importance of regulatory frameworks such as the Nigeria Startup Act, which provided a structured approach to nurturing innovation.
He highlighted NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which anchored its policies on dynamism, intelligence, and awareness, ensuring a regulatory environment that protected consumers while enabling businesses to scale.
Inuwa also stressed the need for stronger data protection laws, enhanced cybersecurity frameworks, and AI governance strategies that promote responsible technology deployment.
He said that public/private partnerships already played a vital role in the country’s digital transformation.
According to Inuwa, recent collaborations between the Federal Government and global tech giants, such as Microsoft, Google, and Meta, underscore the importance of synergy.
He said that the recent agreement between the Federal Government and Google was set to transform the country into a global tech hub.
The NITDA boss added that the agreement would also transform Nigeria into a partnership focusing on infrastructure development, citizen upskilling and AI innovation among others.
“Collaborative approach ensure that digital policies and initiatives align with global best practices, while addressing local needs.
“Among NITDA’s ongoing initiatives is the Digital Literacy for All Programme in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps, which aims at achieving 70 percent digital literacy by 2027.
“Strengthening industry-academic linkages will further bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical applications, ensuring a digitally skilled workforce,” Inuwa said.
He noted that Nigeria’s active participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presented significant opportunities to position the country as a regional hub for digital trade and services.
The director-general reiterated that Nigeria’s digital transformation required bold decisions, innovative thinking, and strategic alliances.
He urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure that digital transformation was not just a vision but a reality driving sustainable economic development.
The NITDA boss said: “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” (NAN)
