Representative of the DG NITDA, Engr Salisu Kaka speaking at the just concluded Nigeria Computer Society Conference.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has said Nigeria’s digital future depends on weaving together intelligence, security, and sustainability.
Speaking in Kano at the opening of the 19th International Conference of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), themed “Intelligent, Secure, and Sustainable Innovations for a Connected World,” Inuwa, represented by Engr. Salisu Kaka, stressed that the three elements are no longer optional but vital to national progress.
He pointed to Estonia’s X-Road platform — which enables 99% of its government services online, as an example Nigeria can emulate. “In a digital environment like ours, where scams and cybercrime thrive, trust is the ultimate currency. Security creates that trust,” Inuwa said.
He added that intelligence, through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and data analytics, is key to solving pressing challenges, while sustainability ensures long-term value. “Innovation without security is like driving a race car with no brakes,” he cautioned.
The NITDA chief challenged Nigerian startups to go beyond digitisation and focus on creating new solutions, citing AI-powered finance tools and machine learning in healthcare as opportunities. He also highlighted initiatives from the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy such as the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Nigeria’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT), the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, the national digital identity system, and talent programmes like 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) and DL4ALL.
He further echoed calls by IFIP President, Antony Wong, for stronger protection of data and indigenous knowledge in the Global South, noting Nigeria’s role in the recent WIPO treaty on genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Earlier, NCS President Dr. Muhammad Sirajo said the annual conference provides an avenue for IT experts and innovators to exchange ideas on intelligent systems, fintech, renewable energy, agriculture, education, health, and national planning.
The week-long gathering features plenary sessions, doctoral workshops, youth forums, IT quizzes, and an induction ceremony, and will end with elections, a gala dinner, and awards recognising ICT excellence.
