Nigeria’s digital revolution is moving fast, but for it to reach every Nigerian, it must move together. That was the message from Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as he led a high-level visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Secretariat in Abuja.
Standing before top officials and policy leaders, Inuwa didn’t mince words: digital transformation is everyone’s responsibility.
“Our mandate isn’t just federal, it’s national,” he said. “To truly build a digital Nigeria, state and local governments must be at the heart of the journey, not at its sidelines.”
He called on governors across the 36 states to forge a stronger digital alliance with the federal government, one that embeds innovation and ICT development into state-level policies, education, and public services.
Inuwa used the moment to reflect on how far the country has come. When NITDA was established, he noted, fewer than half a million Nigerians used computers, and ICT contributed a mere 0.5% to the GDP.
Today, the picture is vastly different. Nigeria now boasts over 130 million internet users, and ICT contributes over 17% to national GDP, a transformation built on partnerships between government agencies, private innovators, and international partners.
“No one succeeds in isolation,” Inuwa emphasized. “We must work as one ecosystem to build prosperity and inclusivity through technology.”
The DG restated NITDA’s mission of creating “a digitally empowered nation that uses technology to drive prosperity,” a vision anchored on the agency’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) built around eight pillars.
At the top of those pillars sits Digital Literacy and Talent Development, the foundation for Nigeria’s future workforce. Through the, 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) Programme and the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF), NITDA aims to achieve 70% digital literacy by 2027 and 95% by 2030.
These initiatives, he explained, are being mainstreamed into Nigeria’s education system in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), ensuring that digital skills are taught from primary school to tertiary level.
The agency is also partnering with the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to train both civil servants and corps members under the NYSC Digital Literacy Champions Initiative, targeting over 10 million Nigerians annually, with a strong focus on the informal sector.
Inuwa invited state governments to play a more active role in upcoming digital policy gatherings, including NITDA’s International Conference on Electronic Governance (ICEGOV) and the Digital Nigeria Conference, platforms designed to encourage cross-state collaboration and shared learning in governance technology.
“Technology must be integrated into governance to enhance transparency, accountability, and service delivery at all levels,” he said. “The more we collaborate, the faster Nigeria moves.”
Responding to NITDA’s call, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)**, hailed the visit as a “timely and strategic engagement” for building synergy between the federal and subnational levels.
“We deeply appreciate NITDA’s leadership in advancing the digital economy. In an age where technology defines opportunity, competitiveness, and governance, your work stands at the heart of Nigeria’s transformation,” he said.
Shittu underscored that digital transformation is no longer an option but a national imperative, one that has the power to expand opportunity, improve service delivery, and uplift millions of citizens.
He pointed to the NGF’s ongoing projects, such as the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Readiness Report and the Intelligent Revenue Authority Readiness Report, which are already guiding subnational reforms in digital identity, data exchange, payment systems, and trust frameworks.
“These reports are not just documents, they’re blueprints for smarter, connected governance,” he said. “Collaboration on Technical Standards for DPI and the Nigeria Data Exchange Framework will enhance interoperability and secure data sharing across government systems.”
Shittu concluded with a powerful reminder:
“With shared accountability and stronger partnerships, we can unlock a digital future where every Nigerian, urban or rural, has access to the tools and opportunities of the modern world.”
In a nation where the digital divide still runs deep, NITDA’s message is clear: bridging that gap will take unity, not uniformity and the time to build that alliance is now.
