Nigeria’s transition to a fully digital economy is gaining momentum, with the Federal Government accelerating efforts to introduce an e-governance and digital economy bill aimed at strengthening regulations for emerging technologies and driving innovation across the public sector.
Speaking at the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardisation (GIST) Nigeria Introductory Stakeholder Workshop in Abuja, the Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani revealed that Nigeria has moved beyond policy formulation to actively implementing its national Artificial Intelligence (AI) roadmap.
He explained that the current focus is on establishing clear regulatory guidelines to ensure AI systems are deployed responsibly, with strong emphasis on ethics, accountability, and safeguards.
As part of the broader digital transformation agenda, the government is also prioritising data classification to guarantee access to high-quality datasets for AI development. Alongside this, efforts are underway to drive cloud adoption across government institutions to improve efficiency, scalability, and service delivery.
Inuwa reiterated the importance of adopting a “cloud-first” approach, noting that reliance on on-premise systems could hinder large-scale digital transformation. However, he assured that cloud integration would be carefully managed to protect Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and sensitive national data.
In the e-governance space, significant progress is being recorded with the development of an interoperability framework and the Nigerian Government Enterprise Architecture. Work is also ongoing on a data exchange platform to support Government Statistics Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which will enhance data sharing and coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
These initiatives are expected to streamline public sector digital projects while opening up new opportunities for private sector participation.
Inuwa emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government, industry players, and other stakeholders to build a resilient digital ecosystem. He expressed confidence that the proposed legislation and ongoing reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s global standing in digital governance while fostering innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth.
Earlier, Peter Marien of the European Commission highlighted the importance of international partnerships in shaping global digital standards. He noted that the European Union’s digital strategy focuses on collaboration and ecosystem alignment across regions, including Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Marien referenced a recent e-governance engagement in Brussels organised with Smart Africa, which included participation from NITDA. He described Nigeria’s involvement in the GIST initiative as a strong demonstration of its commitment to global digital governance.
He further stressed the EU’s commitment to building a human-centric digital ecosystem that prioritises inclusivity, privacy, and security, adding that its 27 member states have, over the years, developed a cohesive digital framework centred on citizens.
According to him, Nigeria remains a key player in Africa’s ambition for a unified digital market, particularly in advancing cross-border digital integration. He also described standards as the “invisible backbone” of modern societies, enabling critical systems across sectors, while noting that the GIST platform supports alignment of technical standards and promotes knowledge exchange globally.
