The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s dedication to expanding digital literacy, fostering innovation, and strengthening technology infrastructure as vital pillars for Nigeria’s inclusive and sustainable development.
Inuwa made this declaration during a two-day interactive forum on Government-Citizen Engagement, hosted by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation at Arewa House, Kaduna. The event, themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government Engagement for National Unity,” gathered stakeholders from across government, civil society, academia, and policy sectors to evaluate the implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In his address, the NITDA chief emphasized that digital transformation lies at the heart of all eight priority areas outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda and plays a critical role in fostering national unity by democratizing access to opportunities.
“Digital technology is not a vertical; it is foundational. It enables every other sector and creates a framework for inclusive economic growth,” Inuwa said.
He highlighted NITDA’s strategic approach focused on three core areas: human capital development, digital infrastructure, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Under this agenda, Inuwa noted, Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have become more coordinated, building trust and encouraging private sector collaboration.
He stressed that Nigeria’s greatest asset is its population, and unlocking this potential requires large-scale investment in digital skills. Through initiatives like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program and the nationwide Digital Literacy for All campaign, NITDA has trained over 350,000 individuals in Northern Nigeria since 2023. The aim, he said, is to ensure that 70% of Nigerians attain basic digital literacy by 2027.
To institutionalize this effort, NITDA is working with the Federal Ministry of Education to embed digital literacy into the curriculum from early childhood to university level. The agency is also partnering with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to include digital studies as part of general education across all Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Further extending outreach, Inuwa disclosed ongoing collaborations with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), where corps members are trained to become digital literacy ambassadors, helping transfer skills to grassroots communities and informal sectors.
On infrastructure, the NITDA boss revealed that the Federal Government has approved the rollout of 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable nationwide to expand broadband access. In addition, three new digital centres are being developed in each state, targeting underserved areas. In the past two years, the North alone has seen the establishment of 13 IT Community Centres, 101 e-learning hubs, and a Cybersecurity Research Centre.
Inuwa also underscored the impact of President Tinubu’s economic reforms, which have spurred renewed interest from international tech companies. He mentioned recent investments by Google and Microsoft, citing Nigeria’s improved digital ecosystem as a key driver.
To cap it off, Inuwa announced that Nigeria is set to host two major international tech events: GITEX Nigeria in September and the United Nations’ ICT for Governance (ICEGOV) Summit in November, platforms expected to attract global stakeholders in digital innovation and governance.
The event served as a platform to measure progress, assess government commitments, and explore digital tools as catalysts for inclusive national transformation.
