The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has reiterated Nigeria’s firm commitment to achieving 70% digital literacy by 2027, highlighting it as a critical enabler of economic growth, social inclusion, and national development.
Speaking at the BusinessDay CEO Forum in Lagos, themed “From Reforms to Recovery”, Inuwa presented a paper titled “Nigeria’s Journey to a Digital Economy”, where he spotlighted the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, a flagship programme designed to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the digital age.
“Digital literacy is the foundation of our digital economy. It’s about more than knowing how to use apps or devices, it’s about equipping our people with the power to innovate, create jobs, and fully participate in the modern economy,” Inuwa said.
According to the DG, the DL4ALL programme targets all Nigerians, from school pupils and office workers to market traders and underserved communities. The initiative uses mobile literacy campaigns, local training hubs, and accessible digital platforms to bridge the nation’s digital divide.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, Inuwa traced it back to 2001 when the National IT Policy was launched and NITDA was established. At that time, ICT contributed less than 0.5% to the GDP and under 500,000 Nigerians had access to computers. Today, over 130 million Nigerians are online and the ICT sector contributes more than 17% to Nigeria’s GDP.
He highlighted key milestones including the enactment of the NITDA Act in 2007, the policy shift in 2012 towards mass ICT integration, and the 2019 adoption of the digital economy framework, which significantly boosted Nigeria’s tech-driven growth trajectory.
Inuwa also aligned NITDA’s efforts with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which sees digital innovation as essential to economic diversification, with strong linkages to sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, energy, creative industries, and education.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is built on the understanding that technology is more than a sector, it’s a cross-cutting driver of national transformation. Whether in education, healthcare, oil and gas, or finance, digital technology is central to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential,” he added.
He outlined eight key pillars driving NITDA’s digital transformation strategy:
1. Fostering digital literacy and talent development
2. Building a robust tech research ecosystem
3. Strengthening policy and legal frameworks
4. Promoting inclusive digital infrastructure
5. Enhancing cybersecurity and digital trust
6. Nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship
7. Forging strategic partnerships
8. Cultivating agile organisational culture within NITDA
“These are not just goals on paper, they are actionable strategies to build a resilient and inclusive digital economy,” he stressed.
Inuwa concluded by underscoring that economic reform must be seen as a continual process. “There is no finish line. Reform and innovation must be constant if we want to build a truly prosperous, digital-first Nigeria. Our ability to equip our people with the right digital tools and skills will determine whether we lead or lag in the global digital economy.”
