The Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has emphasised the critical role of sub-national governments in achieving Nigeria’s digital economy goals. Speaking at the South-South Regional ICT Stakeholders Forum, Inuwa urged states to domesticate national policies and establish robust governance structures to sustain digital transformation initiatives.
“While federal efforts have yielded progress, the true measure of success lies in translating national policies into actionable programmes at the state level,” he said during the virtual forum, which brought together policymakers, technology leaders, civil society organisations, and ecosystem players.
Inuwa highlighted the Nigerian Startup Act and the National Digital Literacy Framework as key tools for driving digital growth, noting that some states still lack comprehensive ICT laws and structured governance mechanisms. He assured participants that NITDA is ready to provide technical guidance to support state-level digital ecosystem development.
Digital literacy remains a central pillar of NITDA’s vision. Under the National Digital Literacy Framework, the Agency targets 95 per cent nationwide digital literacy by 2030. Teachers across the country have been undergoing capacity-building programmes to integrate technology into classrooms, with states encouraged to ensure full participation from public and private educators.
The DG also outlined efforts to upskill public servants, revealing that more than 54,000 federal civil servants have enrolled in structured digital skills training. Plans are underway to extend similar programmes across South-South states to enhance governance efficiency and service delivery.
Inuwa noted ongoing partnerships with organisations such as Cisco, which provides access to self-paced digital courses, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), whose digital champions engage communities in markets, worship centres, and motor parks to raise awareness on technology adoption.
Cross River State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Justin Atiang Beshel, expressed his state’s commitment to leveraging technology for development. He highlighted broadband expansion and improved digital infrastructure as key enablers for e-government, skills development, and job creation. Beshel acknowledged challenges, including limited rural connectivity and funding constraints, but stressed that partnerships with NITDA and the private sector would help narrow the digital divide, strengthen cybersecurity, and foster inclusive participation in the digital economy.
He concluded that coordinated investment and collaboration would position Cross River as a competitive digital hub within Nigeria’s growing technology landscape.
