The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has boldly declared that “digital technology powers everything else,” stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on embracing digital literacy and infrastructure to drive development for all citizens.
Speaking at a two-day interactive session in Kaduna, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Inuwa made it clear that digital transformation is more than just a government policy—it’s a national lifeline.
The event, held at the historic Arewa House, focused on evaluating government promises under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. But rather than the usual political scorecard, Inuwa used the platform to shift attention to the real engine of progress—technology.
According to him, “Digital technology is not a vertical sector; it is pervasive and foundational. It powers everything else and provides a framework for inclusive growth.” This punchline became the central message of his address, setting the tone for a new way of thinking about governance and national development.
Inuwa revealed that NITDA is focusing on three main areas to drive this transformation: human capital, digital infrastructure, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. He noted that the Federal Government’s support is already creating visible results across these pillars, with Northern Nigeria benefitting from strategic investments in digital learning and access.
He said over 350,000 people in Northern Nigeria alone have received digital training since 2023 under NITDA programmes like the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative and Digital Literacy for All. The aim, he said, is simple but bold: make sure that at least 70% of Nigerians are digitally literate by 2027.
To meet this goal, NITDA is working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Education to introduce digital skills into classrooms—starting from the lowest to the highest levels of education. Inuwa said efforts are underway with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to embed digital courses in university curricula. And through a partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), corps members are being trained to spread digital knowledge in grassroots communities.
Inuwa announced that the Federal Government has approved the laying of 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables nationwide to boost broadband coverage. He also confirmed that three new digital centres are being established in every state of the country. In Northern Nigeria alone, 13 IT Community Centres, 101 Digital Economy e-learning centres, and one Cybersecurity Research Centre have sprung up in just two years.
The bigger picture? Nigeria is not just learning digital; it’s becoming a digital destination.
According to Inuwa, the government’s reforms under President Tinubu have attracted major international players like Google and Microsoft, both of whom are now making new investments in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.
To crown it all, Nigeria will host two global tech events—GITEX Nigeria in September and the UN’s ICEGOV Summit in November—proving the country’s growing reputation as Africa’s digital hub
