The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has called on Corps Members and Interns serving in the agency to transform their ideas into scalable technology startups, assuring them of NITDA’s full support to bring their innovations to life.
He made the call during the grand finale of the NITDA Innovation Challenge 1.0, held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja. The event spotlighted young innovators who developed digital solutions designed to improve public service delivery and address real societal challenges.
Sharing his own journey, Inuwa revealed that his tech career began during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, when a simple website project opened doors to a ₦1.5 million contract even before his service year ended.
“That one opportunity changed my life,” he said. “You don’t have to wait until after NYSC, start creating value now. Your ideas can become businesses that impact lives.”
Currently, NITDA hosts over 550 Corps Members, many of whom, the DG noted, face challenges finding jobs after service. Through initiatives like the Innovation Challenge, he said, the agency is equipping them with digital skills, entrepreneurial insight, and the right environment to build startups even before they complete their service year.
The DG applauded the creativity behind the showcased solutions, including smart performance tracking systems, job placement platforms, and certificate verification tools, describing them as “the building blocks of Nigeria’s digital future.”
“These are real solutions to real problems,” he said. “And every innovation developed here strengthens our mission to build a smarter, more digital Nigeria.”
In his remarks, Dr. Ayodeji Eniola, Director in the DG’s Office, described the Challenge as more than just a contest, calling it a “movement” that will redefine how innovation is institutionalized within the public sector.
“What we’re witnessing today is not just innovation, it’s a cultural shift,” he said. “The NITDA Innovation Challenge is setting a new benchmark for how government can think, collaborate, and create.”
The initiative is guided by the NITDA Innovation Framework (NIF), a structured system designed to harness creativity, improve efficiency, and integrate innovative thinking into public governance.
The maiden edition received 35 submissions from staff, Corps Members, and Interns across departments. Following a rigorous review, 13 priority challenges were selected, forming 24 teams that participated in workshops, mentorship sessions, and pitching rounds. Ultimately, 23 teams completed their projects, addressing key internal challenges and delivering digital-first solutions.
The top six teams were honoured at the event:
- 1st Place – Team X (COPA)
- 2nd Place – Team Sentinel (Smart ID)
- 3rd Place – Smart Track Innovators
- 4th Place – Team Trivergent
- 5th Place – Team TechLogs (SafeCheck)
- 6th Place (tie) – Team Big Tech (Digital Brainbox) and Team SRAPture
The NITDA Innovation Challenge is part of the agency’s broader strategy to foster creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving across the public sector in alignment with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).
Through this initiative, NITDA continues to position itself as a launchpad for young innovators and a model for innovation-driven governance in Africa.
