The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Agence des Systèmes d’Information et du Numérique (ASIN), the digital agency of the Republic of Benin, have strengthened bilateral collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation, advancing digital public infrastructure, and promoting innovation-driven governance across the region.
The renewed commitment was highlighted during a courtesy visit by the Beninese delegation to NITDA’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, where both parties explored opportunities for deeper cooperation, exchange of best practices, and regional digital development.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, stressed the importance of regional collaboration in building resilient digital ecosystems capable of driving sustainable economic growth across Africa.
He noted that NITDA remains committed to advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda through the development of policies, standards, and strategic frameworks designed to modernise governance and enhance public service delivery.
According to him, the Agency has developed several foundational frameworks, including the Enterprise Governance Framework, Digital Transformation Framework, and Software Quality Assurance Framework, to support Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in their digital transformation journeys.
“Our objective is to move government institutions beyond basic digitalisation towards full digital transformation and ultimately establish an intelligent, data-driven government powered by emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence,” he stated.
Inuwa further disclosed that since 2018, NITDA has reviewed over ₦1.5 trillion worth of government Information Technology projects to ensure compliance with standards, technical alignment, and value for money.
He revealed that the intervention has enabled the Federal Government to save over ₦300 billion by reducing duplication, encouraging shared services, and improving the implementation success rate of digital projects across government institutions.
On digital public infrastructure, the NITDA boss explained that Nigeria has moved from fragmented inter-agency data exchanges to a more integrated and citizen-focused ecosystem through the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platform.
According to him, the platform provides a federated and centralised framework that enables seamless data exchange among government institutions while preserving the independence of individual information systems.
He added that the proposed e-Government and Digital Economy Bill would provide the legal framework required to strengthen the platform and institutionalise digital collaboration across government agencies.
Inuwa also highlighted NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) 2024–2027, which aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and focuses on key areas including digital literacy, cybersecurity, innovation, research and development, inclusive access, and strategic partnerships.
Earlier, the Head of International Partnerships at ASIN, Tildy Erlong, said the delegation’s visit followed a recent Smart Africa workshop held in Abuja and was aimed at strengthening institutional partnerships while learning from Nigeria’s digital transformation experience.
She described ASIN as the operational agency under the Republic of Benin’s Ministry of Digital Economy, responsible for implementing strategic digital development initiatives in collaboration with institutions such as the national identity agency, ANIP, and the cybersecurity agency, CENIN.
Erlong highlighted Benin Republic’s progress in digital public infrastructure, revealing that approximately 98 per cent of the country’s population — about 13.6 million citizens — has been enrolled on its digital identity platform.
She further disclosed that over 60 government agencies and service institutions are connected through Benin’s XROAD interoperability platform, enabling the delivery of more than 250 digital services to citizens.
According to her, Benin is also prioritising digital inclusion, open-source systems, and the deployment of Artificial Intelligence to improve service delivery in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and justice.
The engagement marks another significant step toward strengthening regional cooperation and fostering a digitally connected Africa driven by innovation, interoperability, and inclusive technological growth.
